LAHORE: Lahore Knowledge Park Company (LKPC) signed an agreement with Infrastructure Development Authority of Punjab (IDAP) to carry out civil works here at LKPC on Wednesday.
According to the arrangement, IDAP will be acting as executing agency for the construction works of LKP in two phases which include a security road, entrance gates, civic infrastructure and civic amenities for the development of Lahore Knowledge Park.
LKPC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Zubair Iqbal Ghouri and General Manager Contracts Amir Mirza inked the agreement. IDAP CEO Mujahid Sherdil and LKPC Chairman Lt Gen Muhammad Akram were also present.
According to the company source, construction works will begin at the site of LKPC by the end of December 2017 as the tendering process has been completed by the executing agency (IDAP).
It has been learnt that the civil works under the two initial packages will be finished within 8 months, which will enable the company to establish campuses of international varsities and research and development centres at LKP. Currently, LKPC is working towards hosting a consortium of three Italian universities – Politecnico di Torino, the University of Bari and the University of Bologna – to set up a Pak-Italy University of Engineering Science & Technology.
The company is also at a preliminary planning stage with one of the leading British medical teaching hospitals and various other Swedish and Chinese universities to set up their campuses at LKP. There are also prospects of hosting a frontline Turkish Technopark. Groundbreaking of the Lahore Knowledge Park is expected to be held early next year.
As the first knowledge and research park of Pakistan, LKP is expected to be an economic game-changer for the country.