Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday said that a network of roads, flyovers and underpasses costing billions of rupees is being laid throughout the province with a vision to elevate the infrastructure for rapid progress of Punjab.
Furthermore he said that a comprehensive strategy has been adopted for the elimination of corruption from development projects while in addition to effective monitoring of mega projects, a third-party audit system has been made mandatory for maintaining a high standard of construction work.
Sharif was presiding over a high level meeting for the improvement of Kalma Chowk and Bhatta Chowk besides reviewing the pace of implementation of ongoing development projects in the province. The meeting considered various proposals for improving traffic system at Kalma Chowk and Bhatta Chowk.
The Chief Minister said that infrastructure plays an important role in the development of a country besides promotion of economic activities and generation of job opportunities. He said that government gives top priority to infrastructure development and provision of better transport facilities to the masses and a number of development projects were being executed expeditiously in the province for this purpose. He said that a high standard of construction work was being ensured and the tradition set 10 years ago in this regard was being revived. He said that corruption and misappropriation of development fund had been strictly checked and a comprehensive system had been evolved for transparent and timely completion of uplifting projects.
Sharif said that horticulture had been made an essential element of all future development projects for the provision of providing a healthy atmosphere to the people while special attention was being paid to the development of parks for children and other recreational facilities. He said that Kalma Chowk was an important place of the city from where million of vehicles pass daily but due to traffic jams general public and students faced a number of difficulties. He said that a project for the improvement of Kalma Chowk was evolved in the last tenure of the present leadership but due to the toppling of the democratic government, the project was abandoned, resulting in tremendous increase in the cost of construction. He said that before taking this project in hand, work should be initiated on alternate routes for saving the people from inconvenience. He said that the plan for the improvement of Kalma Chowk should be finalised after considering all proposals and the project should be started as early as possible.
The CM directed the concerned departments to hold meetings with Lahore Rail Mass Transit System authorities for consultation regarding the project. He also directed to initiate work for the improvement of Bhatta Chowk during the current year for providing relief to the people of the area.
Sharif said that besides widening of roads and construction of flyovers and underpasses, proper traffic management was equally important for ensuring a smooth flow of traffic. He directed Advisor Jehaneb Burki to chalk out a plan with the consultation of the departments concerned regarding traffic management and ensure its strict implementation for the benefit of the people.
Earlier, Chairman Planning & Development, Secretary Communications and NLC and NESPAK authorities submitted proposals regarding improvement of Kalma Chowk and Bhatta Chowk. They also apprised the meeting of different options for reducing the load of traffic at Kalma Chowk. Chairman Planning & Development gave details of ongoing mega development projects in the province.
The CM said that the government is the custodian of public money and all out resources were being utilised for the welfare of the masses.
He ordered formulation of a comprehensive plan in the light of various proposals for streamlining the flow of traffic at Kalma Chowk and Bhatta Chowk and initiating work on the projects.
Advisor Jehanzeb Burki, Chairman Planning & Development, Secretary Communications, Commissioner Lahore, Director General LDA, DIG Traffic, NESPSK and NLC authorities as well as other officers concerned were present.