South Punjab allocations: Infrastructure, education get biggest share

The Metro Bus project and establishment of several universities prioritised.

MULTAN: Rs173 billion has been allocated for development projects in south Punjab in the provincial budget.

Projects prioritised in the budget include the Metro Bus Transit System in Multan, establishment of Khawaja Farid Engineering Information Technology University, a cadet college, the construction of a bridge on River Indus connecting Rajanpur and Rahim Yar Khan, upgrades at the teaching hospital in Dera Ghazi Khan and the establishment of a veterinary university in Bahawalpur.

Education

The government has allocated Rs100 million for Bahauddin Zakariya University and Rs302 million was earmarked for the establishment of a women’s college in Qadirpur Rawan.

The government has also earmarked Rs33 million for the establishment of a women’s college in Muzaffargarh and Rs12 million for a men’s college in Kabeerwala.

Rs277 million has been allocated for Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University in Multan.

Infrastructure

The provincial government has allocated Rs1.2 billion for infrastructure upgrades in the region.

The government has also allocated Rs240 million for a women protection centre. The project is in the final stage of completion.

Rs10 million has been earmarked for a Rescue 1122 centre at Chowk Kumharanwala. The government allocated Rs50 million to Dera Ghazi Khan and Rs150 million to Vehari for construction of new roads.

The government has also earmarked Rs44 billion to launch the Safe City Project in six cities of south Punjab. The project would be completed in December 2017.

The government is also planning to computerise record of 374 of 716 police stations in the region. Funds have also been earmarked for specialised units such as the Dolphin Force, an emergency response team and a special protection unit.

Health facilities

Rs10 million has been allocated for the establishment of a District Headquarters Hospital in Multan, Rs20 million for the establishment of cardiology centre in Rajanpur, Rs17 million for the construction of a hospital in Layyah, Rs40 million for renovations at Vehari District Headquarters Hospital and Rs10 million for establishment of a urology ward at the Muzaffargarh District Headquarters Hospital.

The government has also earmarked Rs10 million for a biomedical workshop in Multan, Rs17 million for upgrades at District Headquarters Hospital in Kabirwala and Rs16 million for the establishment of a trauma centre in Taunsa. The government has also allocated Rs80.4 million for remodelling of Nishtar Hospital in Multan, Rs170.9 million for the construction of a residential colony for the staff of Dera Ghazi Khan Medical College and Rs30 million for the establishment of a children’s complex in Bahawalpur.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16^th, 2016.