Urban development: ‘Federal, provincial government committed to Faisalabad’s uplift, beautification’

By Shamsul Islam

While hearing other petitions Water and power minister inaugurates renovation of green belt. PHOTO: FILE

FAISALABAD: “The government is endeavoring for the development and progress of the country. A number of projects are being implemented for the beautification and uplift of major cities,” State Minister for Water and Power Chaudhry Abid Sher Ali said on Friday.

He was addressing reporters at the inauguration ceremony of renovation work at Sandal Bar Enclave green belt on Canal Road.

District Coordination Officer Noorul Amin Mengal, Parks and Horticulture Authority Managing Director Ashiq Dogar, University of Agriculture Faisalabad’s professor of horticulture Prof Atif Qureshi and several local industrialists were also present on the occasion.

The minister appreciated industrialists for extending cooperation in the project for the city’s beautification.

He said green belts on both sides of the Canal Road were being renovated with organised and well managed. He said various other projects had also been conceived for the development and beautification of the city. He said several link roads would be constructed for shedding traffic load from main thoroughfares.

Responding to a question, Ali said stopping electricity theft was a national obligation.

He said the government was making efforts to eliminate theft. He said it was the government’s priority to overcome the energy crisis and maintain law and order in the country.

He said that 1,500 to 2,000 mega watt electricity would be added in the system under the government energy policy. A mega project had also been initiated to produce electricity from coal, he said.

The minister lauded the efforts of the DCO for the beautification and development of the city. He assured his cooperation in completion of the uplift projects for the relief of the masses.

The DCO said that the 12-kilometer long Canal Road was being beautified on both its sides using landscaping. He said the areas had been divided into four portions: Sandal Bar, Pakki Mari, Lyallpur and Faisalabad Enclaves. Each of the four portions will be completed at an estimated cost of Rs6 million.

He said that green belts would be developed in these portions under the theme of its name.

He also said that a comprehensive plan had been made by horticulture experts. These green belts, he said, would also benefit people as parks and jogging tracks.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2014.