Pakistan

Punjab to build new city in Salt Range

Punjab CM says project will prove to be a milestone in promotion of industrial, economic and trade activities

Ali Usman March 02, 2015

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. PHOTO: EXPRESS

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has approved building a new city and a special economic zone in Salt Range near the Motorway.

The decision was taken in a high-level meeting chaired by the chief minister on Monday. Addressing the meeting, Shahbaz said the proposed project will prove to be a milestone in promotion of industrial, job opportunities, economic and trade activities in the province.

Read: Tech-savvy Punjab: CM approves free public Wi-Fi across province

He directed for immediate steps be taken for practical implementation of the project, adding that services of prominent international consultants should be acquired and necessary work be initiated immediately.

Planning & Development chairman, Provincial Minister for Industry Chaudhary Muhammad Shafiq, and Minister for Housing Tanvir Aslam Malik, among other officers, were present at the meeting.

Read: Energy crisis: Govt to set up LNG-based energy projects, says Shahbaz

COMMENTS (20)

Ahsan | 9 years ago | Reply my objection is only that there exist a wind corridor for producing much needed energy and there are lots of coal mine so why not set up energy projects.In my opinion site of new city is critical.

Timorlane | 9 years ago | Reply Only a logical thing for them to do since they have solved all the problems of the existing cities what they wouldn't think of to make commissions !!

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Warrior Bin Qasim | 9 years ago | Reply This will also be all hype no action like Gaddani project, Kalabagh dam etc. Gwadar and Pak China corridor have already gone down the same drain and soon Metro Bus will also go down same route.

imran | 9 years ago | Reply Copy of motorway city nowshera of PTI.

The Khan-Waterloo,Ontario | 9 years ago | Reply Is it any coincidence that under nawaz regime, Pakistan is doing relatively good with all the macro-economic indicators going up. I did a mistake voting for Imran, atleast for now. Nawaz's experience is coming really handy

Jibran | 9 years ago | Reply Sharif brother's think like mughal emperors. Wasting national resources on building monuments, new cities, with the existing cities in total decline. I wonder who holds the land in the area under consideration, who will be contractors. I see dollar signs in the eyes of Sharif dynasty.

raider | 9 years ago | Reply @Blithe: make new model cites, don’t correct and equip other cities where below average peoples residing and afflicting from inadequacies, peoples having not even any hospital facility, no treatment for heart and liver and kidney diseases which are rampant in Punjab and even other provinces and patients in emergency mode are being given time frame for treatment and it likely to implode him to death, i cannot describe the ill conditions of all infrastructure of Govt institutions and you are making merry with mughlia plans

raider | 9 years ago | Reply @Chachoo: dear in Sharif reign nothing is provincial subject, and nothing is federal subject, it is all Sharif butt subject, i am happy that two bother in first time in all the time in history of democracy one is pm and other is cm of province population more than 56% of the country, duo is always there in on foreign tours side by side, both attend funerals side by side still there are some provincial subjects, still I regard your suggestion

Blithe | 9 years ago | Reply Well done! Let's make it a model city in terms of environment . Let's not have the plotting for individuals houses in the conventional sense. Make public spaces and apartments . Protect green spaces. We need to make our cities conducive to public mingling . Karachi is one of the most worst cities with very little public spaces.

Chachoo | 9 years ago | Reply @Khan Gul: Khan sahib do you even know what is meant by Salt Range?. It is the whole Potohar region. Many Pushtoons have made Pindi their home but when it comes to bashing this region then they are the forefront. For your information the Salt range is already in the range of Lahore-Islamabad motorway.. Also it is a provincial project. But unfortunately some people who cannot think beyond their narrow minded ethnic approach could not think in a positive manner at all.This city would be developed with the money of Punjab government. So what is your objection?. Also other than blaming Punjab ask Imran Khan to start such initiative in KP as well.Your province is enjoying the royalties and budget. So why you dont want to spend that money on such initiatives? Blaming others for your shortcomings is too much easy in many ways.

expat | 9 years ago | Reply @Chachoo, You are right. Soon valley scenic beauty and three lakes give a fascinating spectacle to the visitors. In fact it is the perfect place to promote tourism because of his natural beauty and relatively better law & order. Sumaira Malik was elected almost 3 times from that constituency but did nothing for the people of Soon Valley. Unfortunately, people are more concerned with Bradriism and don't recognize their votes' value. But CM Punjab has his own way of working and sometime wastes billions in unnecessary projects. Your suggestion has worth, lets hope may be some government high up read here and take it to the Khadme-Ala. By the way I am from Uchhali.

Shakil Khan | 9 years ago | Reply Just check who has bought all the land in that location, you will know the reason! public spending to make real estate fortunes! old habits die hard!

Adnan | 9 years ago | Reply Guess what Mr Hamza Shehbaz has already procured a large area of land near Lillah town...........its all their own business plans....this way the price of that land will increase manyfolds and Sharif family will become even more richer than what it is now.

Truth Detector | 9 years ago | Reply More commission/corruption avenues cometh !!!

Khan Gul | 9 years ago | Reply This is part of the "industrial cities" along China-Gawadar motorway. Congratulations KPK, your project has been taken away from you.

Kaleem Ullah | 9 years ago | Reply Is it just a coincidence that this man remains in good news most of the time.

raider | 9 years ago | Reply royal mentality could not think beyond building structures for their satisfaction leisure time just like mughias , for GOD sake divide Punjab, Lahore and Karachi and even all the congested cities to get them prosper and manageable,

oBSERVER | 9 years ago | Reply He is 'innovative' in creating oppertunity to make a buck or two; in this case Dollar. No time or money for improving state of hospitals and schools or living conditions of common man.

Raisani | 9 years ago | Reply yes do build new city for new commission.

Chachoo | 9 years ago | Reply Other than the salt range the region of Soon valley should be selected for the new city as well. It is one of the most beautiful and undiscovered regions of Punjab. It is a valley with too much natural beauty. On Sakesar peaks you can even see the see the snow in the winter and that too in the middle of Punjab. If a new city would be established neat the Ucchali and Khabaki lakes and that could span Sakesar mountains then that city would surpass Islamabad and any other city of Pakistan in terms of natural beauty.

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