Strategy evolved for expeditious uplift of Faisalabad division

FAISALABAD: A progressive strategy has been evolved for expeditious uplift of the division, said Commissioner Ishrat Ali.

Addressing business community at the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) here, he appreciated the role of Faisalabad in strengthening the national economy and said that provision of funds for development projects was directly linked with enhanced economic activities and he was trying his optimum best to facilitate the industrial and business sectors of the division.

Regarding improvement in basic infrastructure facilities, he said that the Punjab government had released a grant of Rs 200 million and hopefully one side of the under-construction Kashmir underpass on Canal Road would be opened for traffic in a month.

"Efforts are also being made to complete the project positively ahead of June 30 this year", he told and added that the government had paucity of funds, but despite it three important roads linking Faisalabad with Jaranwala, Faisalabad-Chiniot and Faisalabad-Samundri roads had been included in annual maintenance and repair programme of the Communication and Works Department. He was optimistic that work on these roads would begin in June this year.

About Jaranwala-Khurrianwala Road, the commissioner said that he had taken up the issue with the chief secretary to build it under public-private partnership. He, however, said that he was not in a position to clearly explain its factual status.

Regarding linking Faisalabad with Lahore-Karachi motorway, he told that in this connection three different sites had been identified.

About streetlights, the commissioner said that the city had been divided into 10 zones. "Lights will be provided on alternate poles while staff has been deputed to register streetlights and Wasa related complaints in each zone", he added.

Regarding a parking plaza, Ishrat Ali said that the government had released only Rs 1 million for the under-construction parking plaza on Mayor Road.

"It is just a peanut and he has been forced to float a proposal to complete it on public-private partnership basis", he told and added that in this connection, the chief secretary had been requested to accord permission and

upon his written permission further steps would be taken.

Regarding shifting of wholesale market from city area, he said that the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other stakeholders must submit their suggestions and proposals in writing, enabling the administration to finalise the proposal.

He expressed concern on the affairs of the Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) and said that people were responsible for its abysmal performance as this city belonged to them as they were the ultimate beneficiary or effectee of its poor show.

About Wasa, he told that its rates were fixed in 2005 while electricity rates had now been increased 450 times. He said that its rates should be rationalised to ensure continuity of its services to the residents of Faisalabad city.

Speaking on the occasion, Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Rana Sikandar Azam Khan said that the FCCI was established in 1974 with 7,000 members. "However, it is representing 15 million people of the division", he told and added that economy had around 100 different sectors and the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry had constituted separate standing committees for each sector.

ACE RETRIEVES STATE LAND FROM SQUATTERS: The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Faisalabad region retrieved state land worth Rs 26,000 million from squatters in Faisalabad region during 2019.

Anti-Corruption Establishment Regional Director Imran Raza Abbasi told reporters that the ACE teams arrested 185 people involved in malpractices in the region. He said the ACE also arrested 34 proclaimed offenders and recovered Rs 1,780 million from them.