Pindi to get nine uplift projects

Five dams, a hospital and three varsities approved

RAWALPINDI: At least nine new uplift projects along with schemes for revamping existing facilities in Rawalpindi district worth over Rs12 billion have been made part of the Punjab Budget 2020-21.

The Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan disclosed to this to The Express Tribune on Saturday. Though a federal minister, Sarwar takes special intersts in matters of his home constituency.

He said that funds for the mega projects including the construction of five new dams, a 100-bed hospital, and three new universities in the Rawalpindi district would be earmarked in the provincial budget 2020-21.

Beside this, the minister said that upgrading two public hospitals in the district would also be part of the development projects.

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He added that the total cost of the development funds for Rawalpindi would Rs12.70 billion.

Further, the Federal Parliamentary Secretary For Narcotics Sheikh Rashid Shafique said the Chak Beli Khan and Papin Dams would be constructed with costs of Rs1 billion and Rs70.5 million respectively.

He added that the government will also allocate funds worth Rs5 billion for the water supply project from Chuhan dam, asserting that it would end water scarcity in the garrison city.

Shafique noted that the land for construction of a 100-bed hospital on Chakri Jorain point on Motorway has already been acquired, adding that the estimated cost of the project would Rs5 million.

The official said that the Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has approved to include three universities including Information Technology (IT) University in Rawalpindi, Kohsar University in Murree, and Potohar University in Gujjar Khan in the budget.

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MNA Sadaqat Abbasi said that the provincial government has formally allowed upgrading the Darul Amaan worth Rs100 million in the budget.

The hospital in the suburban area of Jorain is expected to be completed in two years at an estimated cost of Rs340.56 million.

The healthcare facility is being constructed at the entry point of Rawalpindi city to reduce the influx of patients in the allied hospitals including Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Holy Family Hospital and District Headquarters Hospital. Besides this, it will also help in job creation for the locals.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2020.