Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Perviaz Elahi, while announcing the construction of motorway from Sialkot to Lahore in a Punjab Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, has said that this six-lane motorway, which would be completed during 2007, between two important industrial centers of Punjab would give an impetus to economic activities in the province.
According to an official, the meeting decided to take a number of steps for the welfare of the people and to accelerate the pace of ongoing development process. These measures include construction of an international standard motorway from Sialkot to Lahore, action on war footings against manufacturing and sale of spurious drugs, activating of provincial and district price control committees to monitor and maintain prices of daily use items as well as construction of a modern sports city in the provincial metropolis.
The Chief Minister said that the proposed motorway would pass through Gujranwala and would be linked with Gujrat, Wazirabad, Muridke and other industrial centers through highways.
"This first motorway of its kind in the country could be aptly termed as 'Shahrah-e-Sanat' and it would reduce the distance between Sialkot to Lahore to only 45 minutes. After construction of the proposed motorway, more such projects would be initiated in the province.
The purpose of this mega project is to facilitate export of the products grown or produced in Punjab and as such it would leave a positive impact on the economy of the whole country.
Referring to manufacturing and sale of spurious drugs, he ordered action on war footings against the elements involved in this heinous trade as they deserve no leniency. He directed that raids be conducted against those engaged in the sale or manufacturing of spurious drugs and such factories should be immediately closed down where injurious medicines are being produced.
He further said that drug stores and pharmacies, which sell bogus medicines, are equally guilty. He directed the administration to ensure strict implementation of the laws regulating sale of medicines and the licenses of all such medical stores should be cancelled that are operating under the name of only one qualified dispenser.
He further directed that government hospitals should purchase medicines from only those firms which guarantee their genuineness.
He also directed that price control committees be fully activated in the province for stabilising the prices of essential items.
"These committees to be headed by District Nazim of the concerned district, are being reconstituted and would hold their meetings on daily basis. I would personally receive reports of these committees and monitor their performance."
Regarding provision of health facilities to the masses, he said that the Punjab government is spending a sum of Rs 6 billion for this purpose and the major share of this amount would be spent in rural areas.
He averred that due to better facilities for the doctors serving in rural areas the number of willing candidates has raised manifold and 25 additional marks would be given in Punjab Public Service Commission interviews to doctors having two years service in villages.
The meeting also decided medical check up of all school-going children twice a year. The CM said that this decision would help early diagnosis of diseases.
The Provincial Cabinet also gave approval for setting up of a sports city in the provincial metropolis over an area of 3,000 acres. An amount of Rs 30 billion would be spent on this project, which would be undertaken through foreign investment under public-private partnership.
The meeting was informed that the services of only those experts would be acquired for this project who had undertaken construction of such sports centers in Dubai or western countries.
The Chief Minister said that after the construction of sports city, Pakistan would be able to host Asian games and other international competitions.
The meeting also decided to award proprietary rights to the residents of Herbanspura village. According to the decision, land would be allotted at the rate of Rs 600,000 per kanal to those living on 10-marlas of land. The CM would give away documents of proprietary rights to the residents at a public function to be held shortly.
The meeting also offered 'Fateha' for eternal peace of Muhammad Tahir MPA, who had died recently.
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