Daily Times

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar presided over a meeting at his office on Tuesday in which performance of Lahore Development Authority (LDA) and progress made on different ongoing schemes was reviewed.

The Chief Minister gave approval to recruitment on vacant posts of engineering and technical staff and directed that vacant technical staff posts should be filled only in case of urgent need.

The meeting decided to construct a flyover to solve the traffic jam problem at Shahkam Chowk besides the early start of road extension project from defense road to labour Colony Shahkam Chowk. The Chief Minister further directed to early complete the repair work of different city roads and added that LDA and the district administration should ensure it in their respective jurisdictions.

He said that underpasses should be renovated and added that they will be made over according to the names attributed to them. Complete automation of LDA was also decided to ensure organizational transparency and Usman Buzdar said that people should be given maximum facilities by using the latest technology. He said that sports complexes construction projects in Lahore should be completed and steps be taken by identifying priorities. He said that another IT tower will be constructed in the old vegetable market adjacent to Arfa Karim IT Tower adding that nitty-gritty of the scheme should be settled as soon as possible. He also directed to rectify the out of order street lights and assured that maximum facilities will be provided to the citizens of the provincial metropolis.

Usman Buzdar said that new water supply and sewerage schemes will also be started in Lahore and observed that LDA will have to take a lead to provide best service delivery to the citizens. DG LDA gave a briefing about the performance and schemes of the Lahore Development Authority. Vice-Chairman LDA Sheikh Muhammad Imran, Chairman P&D, Principal Secretary to CM, Secretary Housing, Commissioner Lahore, Chairman PITB, DG LDA and head of SMU attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, Buzdar said that Rs 52 billion had been released by the government for different schemes, adding that comprehensive mechanism has been devised for the monitoring of development projects. He said that strict monitoring will be done at every level and no compromise will be made on the quality of work done. He also directed that the pace of work should be expedited on ADP schemes and correct utilization of development budget be ensured as well. He made it clear that delay in the utilization of funds will not be tolerated and added that the annual development program is reflective of governmental priorities which are aimed at the welfare of the masses. The public-private partnership will be promoted for attracting more investment in different sectors and public-private partnership authority is also being formed to move further in this regard, he added. The Punjab government has given importance to meeting public needs in its ADP and more funds are provided for the development of the social sector. The government has also protected the rights of the farmers who remained a victim to an exploitative system during the past tenures, concluded the Chief Minister.

Separately, Buzdar said in a statement that the meeting between Prime Minister Imran Khan and US President Donald Trump had paved the way for peace and stability in the region, while Imran Khan, who was accorded warm welcome, also achieved important diplomatic success during the visit.