Punjab government has declared Sialkot and Sahiwal as big cities of the Province said District Coordination Officer (DCO) Sialkot Dr Asif Tufail. Addressing the members of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) here he said the big city proposed project of Sialkot and Sahiwal will cost more than Rs 120 billion.
The DCO said the internationally recognised agencies are finalising their study on city development and planning adding that hopefully the study will be completed in near future. Under big city project all basic facilities especially civic amenities would be ensure in Sialkot and it is expected that development work of mega big city project will be monitored by the international agency.
The DCO stressed the need of early completion of Sialkot Tanneries Zone project for overcoming the pollution problem as well as to ensure the availability of hygienic drink water to the people of the city adding that according reports the water of Sialkot had become unfit and posing serious health threats.
Dr Asif informed the house that according to the technical reports the construction of overhead and underpass at Zahra memorial hospital is not feasible while initial work on constriction of overhead bridge at Sublime chowk had already been initiated adding the completion of overhead bridge would help reduce traffic problems. In his address of welcome President SCCI Major Mansoor Ahmed (Retd) urged the need of early completion ring road for minimising the traffic load in the city adding that due to the rapid increase in population the traffic problem had become tedious as a result of which road accidents had become a regular feature.
The construction of housing colonies has been increased to many folds in the area without proper planning and future needs of the people were totally ignored and under the prevailing circumstances the concerned authorities should ensure the parking facilities in commercial plazas he pointed out.