Walled City of Lahore Authority to be expanded to other districts

CM says many cities have distinctive historical structures which can help promote tourism

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar stated that the scope of the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) will be expanded to other districts in the province so that historical buildings can be restored to their original shape.

He expressed these views while presiding over a meeting at his office on Monday where the performance of the authority and renovations at the mausoleum of Mir Chakar Azam Rind in Okara were being reviewed.

Addressing the meeting, the chief minister highlighted that the restoration of historical sites will help improve the overall aesthetic beauty of cities. Many cities have distinctive historical structures which can help promote tourism, he maintained.

“The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) government is working towards developing the tourism sector,” he claimed. The chief minister added that the mausoleum of Mir Chakar Azam Rind in Okara will be restored to its original shape.

Construction and repairs on the road leading towards the tomb will be completed soon. This step is an expression of unity with the people of Balochistan and the authority will be provided all-out assistance by the government, he stated.

Lahore Fort’s picture wall to become publically accessible

WCLA Director General Kamran Lashari briefed the meeting about restoration work underway at Lahore Fort and the royal kitchen unearthed at the fort. Secretaries from the local government, the auqaf department, the archaeology department as well as the Lahore CCPO, Okara deputy commissioner and others were present during the meeting.

Meanwhile, while presiding over another meeting on Monday, the chief minister said that the Punjab government has decided to introduce a comprehensive welfare package for labourers. The package will be announced on May 1 and a ceremony will be held in this regard.

Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that the time has come to improve labourers’ living conditions and added that a special package has been chalked out by the government to give labourers incentives and facilities.

Every measure will be adopted to maintain the health of labourers, he said. Labour Minister Ansar Majeed Khan Niazi and the secretary briefed the chief minister about the arrangements and salient features of the package. Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid and others were also present at the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2019.