Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has said that new projects of infrastructure in cities will be completed under public-private partnership (PPP) and the government will go for international bidding for PPP projects.
A meeting of Board of Punjab Public-Private Partnership Authority was held under the chair of Punjab Chief Minister Sarfar Usman Buzdar at CM House. Administrative and financial rules of the authority were got approval in the meeting.
The CM further directed the concerned authorities to get full benefit from the opportunities of public-private partnership for new development projects.
He directed to expedite work on preparation of feasibility for treatment plant in Rawalpindi. He said that 62 km long Rawalpindi Ring Road would be completed in PPP mode at a cost of Rs 61 billion.
He directed that important matter should immediately be settled in this regard. He said that project of provision of clean drinking water in 20 pilot zones of Lahore will be completed at a cost of Rs. 7.25 billion.
42 vehicle fitness testing systems will be set up in Lahore at a cost of Rs. 1.5 billion. Zero Waste Material Recovery Project in Lahore will be completed at a sum of Rs. 1.44 billion. 10 mega projects in Punjab will be completed under public-private partnership at the sum of Rs. 79 billion.
The decisions of second meeting of Policy & Monitoring Board were ratified in the meeting as well. The meeting also reviewed the pace on development projects being completed in collaboration with private sector.
Advisor of CM Punjab Dr. Salman Shah, MPA Khadija Umer, Chief Secretary, Chairman Planning and Development, Senior Member Board of Revenue, experts on financial matters, concerned secretaries and other high ranked officers were present on this occasion. Commissioner Rawalpindi Division also attended the meeting via video link.
Usman Buzdar paid a surprise visit to Firdous Market Underpass project without protocol. The administration and concerned authorities were remained unaware about the CM’s visit.
Usman Buzdar himself drove to the site and inspected the construction work and talked with labours working on the project. The chief minister directed to complete the project before the stipulated timeframe.
He said that earliest completion of Firdous Market Underpass will provide better transportation facilities to the citizens. He said that Firdous Market Underpass is a dual carriageway from both the sides and 540 meter long.
He said that government has save Rs 13 crore in construction cost through transparent tendering. Usman Buzdar said that he is personally monitoring the progress of this important project of Lahore like the projects of backward areas.
The CM said that he will revisit the site to inspect the progress on construction work. He said that national resources were looted mercilessly in the past. The present government is the custodian of every single penny of national exchequer.
He said that this project has been planned keeping in view the difficulties being faced by the people. Completion of the project will result in saving precious time of the public as well as the fuel, he added.
An important meeting of Punjab Cabinet Committee for Anti Coronavirus held at CM’s Office today to review the measures taken to deal with the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting also reviewed the preparation of SOPs and other necessary arrangements for Eid-ul-Adha.
