44k acres selected for Ravi project: CM

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has said that in the first phase of the Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project 44,000 acres of land has been selected and an industrial zone on 6,000 acres of land would also be established. He said three barrages would be constructed with a storage capacity of 600,000 cusecs of water.

The chief minister expressed these reviews while chairing a meeting regarding Ravi Urban Development Authority at the CM Office on Tuesday. Buzdar expressed satisfaction over the progress of the project and directed to speed up the pace of the work on the project. The chief minister said the project would be eco-friendly as 600,000 samplings would also be planted which would help to significantly reduce environmental pollution. He further directed the authorities to complete the land acquisition work as soon as possible keeping in view all the rules and regulations.

The chief minister also pointed out that the project would have a great attraction for foreign investment and also to be showcased in Dubai Expo which is going to kickstart from in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from October 1. “The Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project is a unique one in the world to be built on the bank of a river as it would prove to be a gamechanger, leading to open up new avenues of development.

Ravi Urban Development Authority Chief Executive Officer Imran Amin briefed the meeting about the progress and land acquisition matters of the project. Provincial Minister for Housing Asad Khokhar, Chief Secretary, SMBR, housing secretary, P&D chairman, principal secretary to CM, Finance Secretary, Lahore Division commissioner, Head of Special Monitoring Unit and other relevant officers attended the meeting.

Earlier, CM Buzdar directed the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) and field administration to ensure disposal of rainwater from low-lying areas and reiterated that no negligence would be tolerated. In a statement issued on Tuesday, he directed the WASA, administrative staff and traffic police to remain available in the field adding that rescue-1122 and PDMA should also be fully vigilant to deal with any untoward situation. Later, Multan MPA Salman Naeem called on the chief minister at his office to apprise him of the constituency related problems. While assuring to resolve the public problems on a priority basis, the CM asserted that the Rs360 billion district development package will ensure composite development.

“The past rulers neglected every backward district, including that of the south Punjab districts, the incumbent government instated well-planned projects according to the needs and demands of the people,” he remarked. “The plundering has become a thing of the past. The public money was wasted on ill-conceived projects as the past rulers were fond of personal projection. The past government raised hollow slogans for south Punjab while delivering nothing.” The CM vowed that the PTIled government will fulfil every promise it made to the citizens.

“The past rulers neglected even the genuine public needs but the incumbent government has done away with such wrong traditions,” the CM remarked. Instead of continuing with the tradition of personal projection, the Punjab government has practically delivered and worked hard to fulfil public needs; he repeated and pointed out that the PTI-led government has not indulged in any wrongdoing. The new era of development has started to include south Punjab in the journey of development; he maintained and announced to resume field visits, including that of Multan district,” he asserted.