‘Last govt ignored Knowledge Park’

CM Buzdar says Lahore tech zone will boost university-industry linkage

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar said on Thursday that the previous government had not done any practical work on the Lahore Knowledge Park project for 10 years and left 790 acres of land unused.

Addressing the launching ceremony launching ceremony of the Lahore Technopolis project, he said that while only boundary walls and gates were built in the past, the PTI government had started work on the special technology zone. The Technopolis would spread over 400 acres of the total land and the infrastructure would be completed soon.

The chief minister said Lahore had been chosen for the project keeping in view the presence of a high number of industries and universities in the city.

He said the initiative would create opportunities for necessary linkages between universities and the industrial sector to boost the use of modern technology for strengthening the national economy. Easy access to the landmark project would be provided and employment opportunities would be created due to enhanced investment, he added.

Chief Minister Buzdar announced that the Lahore Technopolis would avail incentives under the Special Technology Zone Act, including tax exemption for 10 years along with property and PRA levies.

Other facilities like a specialised training centre, one-window services, helpdesk for visas and subsidised or tax-free internet and electricity would also be provided. “It’s sanguine that international entities from different countries are taking keen interest in this project,” he maintained.

He said the project would also provide an opportunity for highly trained youths to play their role in industrial development and get employment opportunities abroad.

“As a result, this project would usher in a new era of development while proving to be a game-changer for the new generation,” he said.

Read PM Imran to inaugurate 'Lahore Technopolis' today

The chief also reiterated while speaking to lawmakers who called on him that his doors were always open to the parliamentarians and that PTI was fully united under the leadership of PM Imran Khan. He said injustice had never been done with anyone because the politics of revenge was not practised by the PTI.

He asserted that the party fully believed in the supremacy of law and justice.

He claimed that the opposition parties had tried to score points on every occasion and their role during the past three years had been contrary to the national interest.

The alleged that the opposition parties had harmed the national interest through their negative politics.

The chief minister maintained that past governments had performed little while making boastful claims. They also ignored the needs of the people while initiating exhibitory projects and the country was diverted from its real destination due to their wrong policies, he added.

He said public service was the core agenda of the government that had set new examples by introducing holistic reforms and initiating several development projects to benefit the people.

MPAs Khawaja Daud Sulemani, Muhammad Latif Nazar and Sardar Muhammad Mohyuddin Khan Khosa discussed problems related to their constituencies and other matters of mutual interest with the CM.

Meanwhile, Punjab government spokesperson Hasaan Khawar said Chief Minister Buzdar had issued letters of appreciation and discountenance to the heads of all departments in light of inspections by the Special Monitoring Unit.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 24^th, 2021.