PRIME Minister Imran Khan has declared that after two years of his party’s rule, Pakistan is now at the tipping point of progress and development. He made these remarks while inaugurating a five trillion rupee mega urban development project on the banks of River Ravi in Lahore, which would take care of emerging issues and problems of the provincial capital. The Prime Minister said this would be the second biggest project after Islamabad which will create job opportunities and wealth besides offering an opportunity to overseas Pakistanis to invest in the giant venture.
Lahore is the most urbanized district of Punjab as the ratio of constructed to open land in the city is 50% as compared to just 10% in the case of other cities. However, the scenic landscape of the provincial capital was threatened by rapid increase in its population, mounting pressure on civic amenities, resultant environmental hazards and mushroom growth of housing societies and schemes. In this backdrop, the Prime Minister and the Punjab Government deserve credit for launching of the historic project to save Lahore and promote quality of life of the residents of the city. Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project was conceived in 2013 and in 2014 the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) hired a famous consultant for carrying out feasibility study. Initially, it was proposed to be built over an area of 44,000 acres but in view of its importance and relevance the scope has been increased and under the updated plan a most modern city would be built on one hundred thousand acres of land. The project will rehabilitate and develop the dying River Ravi into a perennial freshwater body, with high-quality waterfront urban development. The modern city will have all facilities for its dwellers, besides a forest area to be planted with six million trees. There is no doubt that the forward looking project is destined to play a pivotal role in maintaining the quality of life in Lahore, promote overall progress and development and create enormous employment opportunities. This, along with several other ventures initiated by PTI Government like new Blue Area in Islamabad and PM Housing scheme, has the potential to give practical shape to the remarks of the PM that Pakistan was now at the tipping point. However, much depends on actual implementation, a challenge that marred most of the initiatives of the Government and, therefore, the PM will have to continue to take personal interest to ensure steady progress.
