Uplift projects: Rs52 billion set aside for expanding roads

Tenders invited for schemes to be completed within six months

BAHAWALPUR: The Punjab government has earmarked a massive development budget worth Rs550 billion while Rs52 billion have been earmarked to expand the road network in the province.

Provincial Cooperatives Minister Iqbal Channar said this while speaking at a public meeting held at Baqirpur Ground in Bahawalpur on Sunday. The public meeting was attended by PML-N workers and a large number of people.

The Punjab government, the minister said, spent at least Rs120 million on various development schemes in Baqirpur including the construction of road networks, sewerage lines and graveyard walls.



He maintained the Punjab government was fully committed to completing the development work in rural areas on time. “The top priority of Punjab chief minister is to widen the socio-economic delivery system by expanding the health and education sectors,” he said.

Channar pointed out the provincial government planned to establish new healthcare facilities and a children complex in Bahawalpur.

At least Rs501.2 million will be spent on 40 road schemes across the district under the Annual Development Programme of the Punjab government. A spokesperson of the local administration said tenders have been invited for the schemes, which would be completed within three to six months.

While giving details of the projects, he said Rs47.8 million would be spent on rehabilitation of a road from Jaranwala-Shahkot to Chak No 99 whereas Rs47.2 million would be spent on widening the road between Jaranwala and Khurarianwala to Chak No 99.

Another Rs43.1 million, he added, will be spent on expansion of a road from Sammundri-Rajana to Chak No 477 while Rs39.6 million will be spent on rehabilitation of a road from Jhang Bypass to Chak No 41, 69 and 38. Another Rs33.9 million would be spent on the construction of a service road and bridge on Rakh Branch Canal near
Satellite Town.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 26^th, 2016.