The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Tuesday laid the foundation stone for the construction of 150 houses in flood-hit villages in district Layyah. The total estimated cost of the project, to be completed in a record time of three months, is Rs 20 million.
The LCCI delegation, headed by its President Shahzad Ali Malik was comprised of Senior Vice President Sheikh Mohammad Arshad, Executive Committee members Mian Zahid Javaid, Marghub Shakir Izhar, Dr Shahid Raza, Khawaja Khawar Rashid and Chaudhry Wajid Ali.
The delegation visited four sites, including Basti Siraee Shumali, Basti Manchar Mohana, Chak Shahni and Basti Shahni and after a detailed discussion with the district Administration, it was decided that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry would initiate construction in Basti Manchar Mohana and Shahbazabad. Basti Manachar Mohana is the most affected area where the residents are spending their lives in camps.
By laying the foundation stone of this mega project, the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry Tuesday became the first Chamber of Commerce in the country to initiate construction in flood affected areas, a spokesman of LCCI said.
At first stage, the spokesman said that 40 houses would be constructed on emergent basis in Basti Manchar Mohana where the devastation due to floods is about 90 percent while on the second stage a Model Village would be constructed at Shahbazabad. The Model Village would be constructed as per Punjab government plan to provide a matching grant for the construction of utilities, ie mosque and dispensary in that model village.
According to him, the designing and town planning would be done by the government while construction would be completed by the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The amount of Rs 20 million required for entire construction activity designed by the LCCI would be generated by the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Three committees comprising LCCI office-bearers and executive committee members have been formed to supervise the project and co-ordinate with the district administration so that it could be completed in three months time.
Speaking on the occasion, the LCCI President Shahzad Ali Malik and Senior Vice President Sheikh Mohammad Arshad said that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry would fulfil its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in a winsome manner as it has the understanding that the government alone cannot cope with the mass devastation caused by the floods. They said that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry will also motivate its members to adopt a house in affected areas. They urged the government to take measures on war-footing to complete infrastructure development in the flood affected areas so that the economic activity in these areas could get a start.
The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry had already contributed Rs 15 million to the cause, as it had donated Rs 10 million in Prime Minister's Flood Relief Fund and other Rs five million in Chief Minister's Punjab Relief Fund for rehabilitation of flood affected people.