PHOTO: EXPRESSABID NAWAZ
While the old files related to the plan appear to be gathering dust somewhere in the Chief Minister House and Lahore Development Authority (LDA) record room, it is estimated that the project will cost a large amount all over again.
The plan to build a new city along the Ravi surfaced after former chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi met some foreign investors during his tenure to permanently solve the urban problems of increasing population and shrinking residential space, environmental issues and municipal constraints.
Initial work was started but it stopped after his government ended. When former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and chief minister Shahbaz Sharif came to power, a special unit was created in the LDA for the project.
Experts and consultants from the government, retired officials and relevant people from other fields were also hired. Consultancy was sought through tenders from national and international companies, after which a foreign firm was given the task.
The company reportedly received about Rs300 million for the consultation work, which included providing services to the municipal, environment, housing, health, civil aviation, agriculture, irrigation and other departments. A feasibility report was prepared after the completion of the consultancy work.
As per the plan, the river’s flow was to be temporarily blocked and 44,150 acres of land around it was to be acquired for residential and commercial development work. High-rise buildings of up to 25 storeys were planned along the river banks, with 12-storey to 15-storey buildings behind them.
The plan envisaged construction of smaller buildings and single-family units farther from the river, along with hotels, commercial stores and other businesses.
Facilities of playgrounds, an international hospital, air ambulance, parking plaza and a canal with boats were also part of the plan. It was estimated that the work would be completed in three stages with the Punjab government seeking investment from the private sector for the purpose.
Some politicians and senior officials had reportedly bought land in the area before the plan was launched so that they could earn profit by selling it at higher rates at a later stage. In order to facilitate completion of the project, the revenue department issued a notification banning the sale of land near River Ravi.
The LDA sent the feasibility report of the proposed project to former chief minister Shahbaz Sharif but he could not start work on the files. The government of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif ended and the special unit in the LDA for the project has been shut, while services of its officers were reverted to their departments.
Now the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Punjab government has again started thinking about the plan to build a new city.
Chief Secretary Major (retd) Azam Suleiman Khan has handed over the task to the housing department. Instructions have been issued in this regard to the Department of Housing, Department of Environment, the LDA and all relevant agencies to submit their own plans.
Sources said senior officers of all the departments are suggesting preparation of a new feasibility report before undertaking such a large project because the dollar’s rate has increased and this has affected all commodities.
The funds required for the acquisition of land and other costs have also increased. The feasibility report will be presented to CM Usman Buzdar so that approval from the prime minister can be obtained. However, the exercise with cost millions of rupees despite the expenditure made earlier.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 24th, 2020.
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