by maqbool malik
Ever since coming into the power corridor in August, 2018, the PTI-led government was embroiled into series of crises like huge circular debts, repayment of foreign loans in billions, energy crisis and lack of good governance etc.
The country was about to collapse due to misdeeds of the PML-N regime. The PTI government selected a team of experts and professionals in their fields who burnt the midnight oil to drive the country out of this crisis and put it towards highway to success.
The Punjab Government under the stewardship of Sardar Usman Buzdar was not lag behind.
He followed the footsteps of Prime Minister Imran Khan and evolved the dynamic planning with the help of his professional squad in a bid to lead the province to rightful direction and had initiated scores of development projects across Punjab.
In view of the immense population and their problems, new development projects were inevitable. He focused the underprivileged areas to bring them at par with the privileged ones. South Punjab was focused highly and funds of billions of rupees were utilized in the backward areas so as to remove sense of deprivation among the public.
Nevertheless, development of big cities remains high priority of the present government.
Sardar Usman Buzdar announced a number of mega development projects for Lahorites to remind them that he did never forget them and they remained in his heart.
The CM envisions that politics is the name of service and public service is rendered in best way through their development.
So, the Buzdar government while keeping in view the problems facing Lahorites since long, started scores of mega initiatives which would transform this city into the developed provincial metropolis very soon after its completion.
Being largest metropolitan city of the province, Lahore has around population of 12 million, known for historical sites and cultural heritage.
The vision of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is very clear to solve their problems which needs uplifting of backward or neglected areas of the city at par with other always focused areas. The government believes that problem identification requires just critical thinking, but solving a problem requires creative thinking.
It is alarming Lahore is considered as one of the most dangerous cities in terms of environmental pollution.
In the past, no attempt was made to understand the hazards of environmental pollution and no attention was paid to any sustainable measures to address it.
The city was spreading wildly – trees were being cut down, creating hazards of climate change in the province.
The important problem facing Lahorites is the unavailability of clean water supply and drainage – most of Lahorites are suffering from fatal and epidemic diseases due to contaminated water and rotten sewage pipelines resulting in overcrowding of patients in hospitals.
Now concrete steps are afoot by the present vigilant government to address these issues on priority- Lahore years-old dilapidated sewerage line will be gradually improved – starting with a major drainage pipeline from Haji Camp to Ravi.
In addition, work has been started on the project of constructing underground water storage tanks in Lahore. Ten underground water tanks are being constructed in Lahore to store rainy water.
And the project will cost Rs1 billion. The first water tank has been built in Bagh-e-Jinnah. During previous monsoon, drainage of water in this area was stored in tank a few minutes due to timely action of the Buzdar government.
The traffic problem in Lahore is intensifying due to which traffic jams have become a norm on all major roads – all the citizens living in Lahore are well aware of the problem and do nothing except endurance.
To ensure smooth flow of traffic in Lahore, underpasses and flyovers are being constructed at Shahkam Chowk and Karim Block Market Chowk, while underpasses will be constructed on Ferozepur Road near Gulab Devi Hospital and at Samandabad Chowk.
Similarly, an overhead bridge will also be constructed from Lahore Railway Station to Sheranwala Gate to improve the flow of traffic in the inner city. The project will cost a total of Rs.4.5 billion, providing an immense convenience to the residents of Lahore.
Another milestone project is that modern bus terminal of international standard would be set up in Thokar Niaz Beg on 100 kanal land. This project would cost Rs.3 billion. In the first phase, electric buses will be run in Lahore.
In this regard, Lahore Transport Company will purchase 50 electric buses through international bidding and it will be run on different routes in Lahore.
The operation of these buses does not involve any subsidy and these eco-friendly buses will not pollute the air of the city. Gulberg's Main Boulevard is a major commercial center in central Lahore.
Numerous shopping malls and plazas, including Firdous Market, Liberty, Hafeez Center, Siddique Center, stand tall on this wide road. Apart from Lahore, people from many cities turn to these big markets on the same road.
The traffic pressure near Firdous Market has increased significantly.
That is why the Firdous Market Underpass project was planned on the special instructions of Chief Minister Sardar Usman Bazdar.
Inaugurating the Firdous Market Underpass on 26th November, 2020, the CM declared a gift to the people of Lahore by the PTI-led government.
About 100,000 vehicles are benefiting from the construction of the underpass and millions of passengers are getting easy travel.
With the completion of this project, the flow of traffic from Center Point Gulberg to MM Alam Road and Cavalry Ground has increased.
Special arrangements have been made for drainage of rain water in 540-metre long two-lane underpass project.
About 7 kanals of land has been acquired for Firdous Market Underpass but it is noteworthy that no commercial building in Firdous Market Chowk has been affected.
Chief Minister Usman Bazdar said that the total cost of Firdous Market Underpass was Rs1.76 billion, including land acquisition. The construction cost of Firdous Market Underpass project was estimated at Rs 1.09 billion.
Through transparent tendering, a significant amount of Rs130million were saved in the construction cost. The completion period of underpass was fixed at 4 months but LDA executed the project in 3 months.
Now come to specialized health care for citizens, it may be that due to the lack of specialized hospitals in backward and remote areas, especially in South Punjab, patients suffering from serious diseases have to turn to Lahore.
Health facilities in backward areas are being improved and innovated but at the same time attention is being paid to build new hospitals in Lahore. No attention was paid to public health issues in the past.
A 1,000-bed general hospital is being built on Ferozepur Road -600 general beds, 200-bed cardiology and 200-bed blood diseases.
The hospital will be built on 124 kanals of LDA land near Arfa Karim Information Technology Tower.
The construction of the hospital will cost Rs.9 billion. Work on Mother and Child Care Hospital is also underway at Gang Ram Hospital and this project will be completed at a cost of Rs. 4 billion.
Similarly, Children’s Hospital has been given the status of University of Child Health Sciences and Rs.4 billion for the establishment of Child University.
A special radiology department having 225 beds and costing Rs.2032billion has been set up in the Services Hospital and 95pc work of the project has been completed.
The Buzdar government is also focusing on construction of apartments for low-income people. In first phase, 4,000 apartments will be constructed for low-income class in LDA City and the cost of the project is estimated to be Rs40billion.
These flats will be given to them on easy terms. In bid to overcome growing residential demands, the Punjab government has decided to establish a new city on the pattern of Dubai alongside Ravi namely River Ravi Urban Development Project.
For this purpose, the government has acquired around 100,000 acres of land which would provide 20,000 people with modern housing facilities. The establishment of modern city would result in transform the history of Lahore.
A new local government system has been set up in Punjab. The Punjab government is expeditiously completing the process on legislation and other issues. The success of the new local government system will be called into question without the training and awareness of public representatives and local government officials.
Therefore, the chief minister took a timely decision and laid the foundation stone of the new building of the Punjab Local Government Academy in Johar Town.
Sardar Usman Bazdar also launched the website of Punjab Intermediate Cities Improvement Investment Program. Excavation was started in the presence of CM and construction of the project was formally started.
The first local government academy will be built in Johar Town under the Intermediate Cities Improvement Investment Program with financial support from the Asian Development Bank.
The Punjab Local Government Academy would be completed in 18 months at a cost of Rs 1.86 billion. The modern building will consist of 2 basements and 6 floors.
There will also be 3 academic floors, 2 administrative blocks, hostel floors and spacious car parking.
The first and second floors of the Punjab Local Government Academy will be rented out. Renting the floors is expected to generate an annual income in millions.
Revenue of Rs. 2.18 billion is expected in 20 years. A library will also be set up in the Punjab Local Government Academy.
Classrooms, syndicate rooms, seminar halls, auditoriums and computer labs will also be set up for 800 people in the academic block. Accommodation and meals for 55 persons will be arranged in the hostel / residential block of Local Government Academy.
During its construction, while keeping in view the environmental issues, air quality test, voice level test and other matters will be taken into consideration. The latest facilities for research will also be available in Punjab Local Government Academy. Public address, voice system, video conferencing system and solar system will also be installed in the academy.
The Punjab government has also completed Bab-e-Lahore Gate in Thokar Niaz Beg to welcome every tourist, passenger and motorist coming to Lahore with open arms. This gate having width of 130 ft and height of 60 has inscribed Darood Sharif with steel works which is creating positive effects in the minds of visitors. It would be fair to say that the CM Buzdar had given Lahore a new identification while the previous rulers had damaged the original grandeur of the city.
Change is in the offing and not only the backward districts of the province but also the developed cities are on way to upgradation instead of being left unattended.
