Urbanisation: Development authority to be set up for Sialkot

Sharif says Rs500 m will be allocated in the next budget for the city.

SIALKOT:

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced on Tuesday that a Sialkot Development Authority will be set up to plan and implement development projects in the city.

He made this announcement at a meeting with businessmen at the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).

Sharif said the establishment of a development authority was needed to ensure sustainable growth of the rapidly growing city. He said the public transport system for the city would soon be revamped under a public-private setup. The chief minister said the provincial government would provide 50 air-conditioned buses (imported from China) for promotion of public transport in Sialkot.

The chief minister said more than Rs500 million would be allocated in the next budget for a development package for Sialkot. Under the package, he said, sports complexes would be established in Gujrat, Gujranwala and Sialkot districts to promote healthy activities among the youth. Sharif said funds would also be allocated for the upgrade of a Cardiac Centre in Sialkot.

The chief minister said a project had been approved to convert Aminabad Road into a dual carriageway. He said work on the project would start in the next fiscal year. He said more housing colonies for journalists and labourers would be established in the province in the next fiscal year. SCCI president Naeem Anwar Qureshi urged the government to expedite work on a proposal to establish a Technology University in the city. He said the facility would be helpful in educating businesses and enabling them to adhere to international standards.

MNA Khawaja Muhammad Asif also spoke on the occasion. Representatives of all major traders’ bodies were present at the meeting.

Energy crisis

Sharif said new power generation projects would be started in the province under a power generation strategy devised in consultation with various chambers of commerce and industry.

Women’s University, laptop distribution 

Earlier, Sharif laid the foundation stone of Government Fatima Jinnah Women University and distributed laptops among students at a ceremony at Government Allama Iqbal Girls College. As many as 812 students were given laptops.

The university is being established on land owned by the provincial government between the Government Postgraduate College for Women and the District Jail.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 25^th, 2012.