Building it afresh: Huge budget allocated to make Multan a model city

Funds allotted for roads, sewerage, parks, hospitals and museums

MULTAN: Commissioner Multan Division Bilal Ahmed Butt vowed to make Multan a model and safe city of the country by providing all facilities like command and control system ,recreational facilities, modern hospitals, safari park, museum and job opportunities.

He expressed these views while addressing at Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), chaired its president Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi.

Butt said groundbreaking ceremony of a hospital of 500 beds equipped with all modern facilities is expected during the current fiscal year while a museum would be established next year subject to the provision of funds besides developing a new big housing colony by Multan Development Authority (MDA).

He suggested that farmers should also launch their own business by making clusters to earn more money like the people of Wazirabad, Sialkot and Gujranwala. He said they work on master plan of sewerage system was in progress with an estimated cost of Rs4.6 billion.

The commissioner said outsourcing of solid waste management was under process. He said a gymkhana would be constructed in new housing colony of MDA while work on a safari park was in progress on Shujabad Road. Work on city roads would be started in few days with an estimated cost of Rs250 million and the project would be completed with the collaboration of highways department, municipal corporation and MDA.

He said Shah Shams Park, Langay Khan Garden, Old Fort Qasim Bagh would be renovated and decorated with an amount of Rs150 million. He said deputy commissioner Multan would conduct operation against encroachments in the district to clear four important roads from encroachments in the first phase.

Divisional Commissioner Bilal Butt disclosed that an investment programme was introduced for new entrepreneurs. Under which loans upto Rs10 million would be advanced to entrepreneurs on 3% to 3.5% markup for a period of five years. First installment of the loan would due after six months.

He voiced hope that there would be economic revolution after advancing loans of Rs150 billions.

“One of the most widely used practices worldwide to support industrial clusters is provision of Common Facility Centres (CFC).

The establishment of CFCs is an integral part of SMEDA’s Cluster Development activities. SMEDA has always been fully cognizant of the significance of Cluster Development and has taken several initiatives,” he said.

He further said Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC) would provide interest-free loans of Rs10 billion for tax-free investment with the cooperation of Akhuwat Foundation.

Working capital of Rs10 billion was being provided to craftsmen, disable persons and other entrepreneurs. He said a handloom zone would be developed in industrial estate on 400 acres of land.

In his welcome address, Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi demanded for establishment of a centre of excellence to preserve the history of Multan for centuries.

MCCI Vice President Bakhtawar Tanvir Sheikh, former presidents of MCCI Khawaja Muhammad Yousaf, Mian Iqbal Hassanm, Khawaja Muhammad Usman, Mirza Ali Ahmed, Khawaja Farooq, Shakir Hussain Shakir and Raziuddin Razi also spoke on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2017.