Urban development: ‘Gujranwala will no longer be Asia’s most polluted city’

A foreign waste management firm will likely start working in February.

GUJRANWALA:

“The Sheikhupura Road flyover will be completed by March. The contractor has been given a March deadline,” Commissioner Abdul Jabbar Shaheen said on Tuesday. He was addressing a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry members.     

Shaheen said that development work in the city was progressing well and that “very soon people will see a different Gujranwala”.

The city’s first flyover is being constructed on Sheikhupura Road to connect the city to the Motorway. The district government is also in process of shifting the Ghalla Mandi outside the city. Shaheen said a summary in this regard would be sent to the chief minister next week. The proposal came from the chamber.



Following Lahore’s example, he said, district administration in Gujranwala was working with foreign solid waste management companies to issue contracts to clean the city. Work would likely begin in February, he added.

“Soon the label of Asia’s most polluted city will be removed from Gujranwala.”

Shaheen urged the citizens to realise their responsibility towards the city and keeping it clean. Chamber President Khawaja Amir Hassan, Vice President Malik Muhammad Amin Naz, members Basit Ikram and several other industrialists were also present.



Addressing the meeting, Hassan said that Gujranwala’s contribution in the country’s economy was vital. He highlighted several problems faced by the citizens and stresses the need for roads and flyovers.

He said lack of interest by some traffic wardens deployed at the diversions due to the construction of the flyover was causing problems for the commuters. This included several hours of traffic congestion and accidents. He asked the commissioner to take notice of the matter.

He also stressed the need for allocating land for a new graveyard in the city.

The commissioner directed the city traffic officer to depute more traffic officers at the diversions. He also assured the meeting participants that he would allocate land for a graveyard.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16^th, 2013.