Gulberg signal-free route approved
The team would inspect Jail Road, Main Boulevard Gulberg and Ferozepur Road to inspect diggings, footpaths, signboards and debris along these roads and submit its proposal to make the city more beautiful. PHOTO: APP
Punjab government on Wednesday approved the construction of a 5km-long signal-free corridor from Center Point in Gulberg to Defence Mor on Walton Road to help improve the traffic flow in the city with an estimated cost of Rs2.8 billion under the ongoing Annual Development Plan.
The approval was given in the 70th meeting of the Cabinet Standing Committee on Finance and Development presided over by Punjab Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
The project will be jointly implemented by the Punjab government and Lahore Development Authority (LDA).
An official statement quoted Chief Minister Usman Buzdar as saying that an underpass would be built at Cavalry Ground and an overhead bridge at Defence Mor under the mega project.
According to the statement, the underpass and flyover are necessary for providing the citizens relief from traffic jams in the area. The project would facilitate the citizens in saving their time and fuel.
As many as 18 recommendations from various departments were presented at the meeting and majority of them were approved.
The committee approved recruitments in BS-5 pay scale in the Katcha areas by the home department for counterterrorism measures in the area.
The participants also gave a nod for recruitments in the Child Protection Bureau.
On the demand of the department of housing and urban development, the meeting approved the removal of a ban on hiring. It allowed recruitment of employees in Grade-1 to Grade-15 in the authorities and agencies attached to the department.
The irrigation department’s demand for the release of Rs55.989 million funds withheld in the financial year 2018-19 under the flood programme was also accepted.
The cabinet committee was directed to take up the agenda item of appointment of staff of the National Programme for Water Course Improvement under the Annual Development Programme.
The committee approved inclusion of three new schemes of the communications and works department alongside sports department’s scheme of setting up a sports complex in Rahim Yar Khan in the ADP.
The finance department was given approval in principle of a technical allowance for engineers.
The provincial minister directed the planning and development department to review the scope of loan disbursement to the Sialkot Tannery Zone instead of grant-in aid.
He also issued instructions for paying technical allowance to graduates working in various departments as per the recommendations of a sub-committee.
The chief secretary of Punjab and secretaries of finance, planning & development and other relevant departments attended the meeting.
Earlier, the Punjab finance minister also met a delegation of the Textile Mills Association and assured its members that matters with the federal government for supply of gas to the mills would be brought to a logical conclusion soon. “Industrial development and revival of exports is our top priority,” he said.
The minister said that with the increase in demand for gas in winter season, domestic consumers are being given priority in view of complaints of shortage. However, we have the right to protest against discrimination against Punjab in supply of gas to industries.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 23rd, 2021.