LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Friday gave approval for setting up River Ravi Front Authority which will be responsible for developing a modern city in the north of Lahore.

In this connection, the Punjab government will promulgate an ordinance and the Chief Minister will be the chairman. The new city will be built over an area of more than 100,000 acres of land with the private sector investment of Rs 5000 billion.

Meanwhile, while chairing a meeting the CM directed officials concerned to start the Greater Thal Canal project which will irrigate barren lands of Layyah, Bhakkar, Jhang, Muzaffargarh and Khushab.

He said that the work on the canal system's restoration should be expedited as it would help in increasing agricultural productivity. He said that the land acquisition process should be completed on a priority basis and asked the concerned Commissioner to immediately complete the survey.

"The land rates should be identified on merit and the landowners should be paid the price of their lands, he added. He said the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide an assistance of US $150 million for this project.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020