LAHORE: An agreement was signed today under the public-private partnership between Communication and Works Department, Punjab Government and Shajar Roads Limited for making a Sheikhupura-Gujranwala double road. Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif was the chief guest of the signing ceremony held in Model Town.
According to the agreement, a two-way road between Sheikhupura and Gujranwala will be made within a year. Addressing the function, Shehbaz Sharif said that this agreement has been made on a build-operate-transfer basis and will cost Rs 5.75 billion. He said that the public-private partnership model is being adopted for providing better facilities to the people and promoting investment. The policy of using the resources allocated in the budget for other important projects has been adopted, he added.
He said that under this partnership, the private sector earns a profit while the public receives facilities; a model that the Punjab government is promoting.
Although the date for completion of this project is fixed for June 30, 2018, the CM has directed the concerned departments to complete it by April 30.
He said that the Punjab government has initiated the mega project of construction of rural roads, a first in the history of Pakistan. Rs 67 billion have already been spent in this regard. He said that the construction of asphalt roads has improved the infrastructure of rural areas and brought prosperity to them.
Shehbaz Sharif said that the creator of Rural Road Construction Program was PM Nawaz Sharif who began work on the project during his tenure as CM in 1985. Responding a question, the CM said that Rs 4.5 billion have been earmarked in the current fiscal year for the construction of Muzaffargarh-Dera Ghazi Khan Road and its work will be started and completed during the current year. Likewise, a project of a dual road from Khenawal to Lodhran has been initiated which will be completed at a cost of Rs 22 billion.
He said that the vehicle of democracy is moving forward smoothly through development and it cannot be derailed. On the occasion, the CM also dealt with some questions relating to new health facilities in Punjab. With reference to the tragic incident of Ahmedpur East, he said that there were some misconceptions about the lack of burn units in the province, pointing to operation burn units in Multan, Faisalabad, and Rawalpindi.
Federal Minister Rana Tanvir Hussain, Provincial Minister Malik Nadeem Kamran, Tanvir Aslam Malik, Members National and Provincial Assembly, Chief Secretary, concerned officers and senior officials were present on the occasion.
