LAHORE: A meeting was held at the Civil Secretariat under the chairmanship of Minister for Local Government Zeeshan Rafique to review the progress of the Punjab Development Programme (PDP).
The meeting discussed schemes planned for nine cities of Punjab. The minister said the Punjab government will spend Rs304 billion on the programme. In the first phase, projects will be launched in Attock, Layyah, Kamoke, Daska, and Khanewal. Vehari, Wazirabad, Bahawalnagar, and Khushab will also be part of this phase.
Zeeshan Rafique said that sewerage systems and underground water tanks will be built in 200 cities in different phases. He added that link roads will be repaired, dirt streets will be paved, and parks and streetlights will be restored.
The capacity of disposal stations will be increased to manage rainwater drainage, while solar energy will be introduced at these stations. He also said that modern sewage treatment plants and a bypass system for safe sewage drainage will be installed.
ALSO READ | Govt notifies new petrol, diesel prices in Pakistan from October 1
The minister directed the project director to complete the tendering process in October. He said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had instructed that the future needs of cities for the next 25 years should be kept in mind while preparing the PDP.
Punjab CBD Launches Phase-II of Route 47 Project
The Punjab Central Business District (CBD) has started development works on Route 47 Phase II, marking another step in modern and sustainable urban growth.
During Phase I, CBD linked Route 47 from Centre Point to Walton Road, built a rainwater harvesting lake, set up a cycling lane, beautified the area, and planted thousands of trees. Structures for solar panels were also installed.
CEO CBD Punjab Imran Amin said Route 47 is not just a road project but a symbol of sustainable development. He said the aim is to turn the corridor into a model of eco-friendly and modern infrastructure.
Rs14.6m Hadyara Drain Project Inaugurated
The Punjab Municipal Development Fund Company (PMDFC), in collaboration with UNICEF and a private university, has inaugurated the Hadyara Drain Revitalisation Project in Lahore.
ALSO READ | Ring Road project in Rawalpindi cost rises to Rs45 billion
The ceremony was attended by Shakeel Ahmad Mian, Secretary LG&CD, Syed Zahid Aziz, Managing Director PMDFC, and representatives from UNICEF, EPA Punjab, and academia.
Under the project, floating wetlands have been installed over a 500-meter stretch of the Hadyara Drain at a cost of Rs14.6 million. These wetlands use special plants for natural water purification.
The Local Government Secretary said another 500 meters will be added in the next phase, and the project will gradually be extended to 10 kilometers. He said this modern, eco-friendly solution will help purify water naturally, remove bad odor, and improve the environment.
