Staff Reporter
Lahore
Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, on Saturday approved to start work on Rawalpindi Ring Road project under Public-Private Partnership on Saturday.
Addressing a meeting in Lahore, the chief minister said that the provincial government will provide all possible support and facilities for completion of Ring Road project.
A comprehensive business model is also being prepared for the promotion of public-private partnerships in the health sector.
The 65.8km ring road will start from Radio Pakistan Rawat N-5 and terminate at Sangjani N-5. Construction of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), including industrial, educational, recreational, medical health, residential and aerotropolis, etc. is a key component of the Rawalpindi Ring Road project.
An agreement will be signed between Lahore Ring Road Authority (LRRA) and National Logistics Cell in a ceremony this month where the chief minister will be the chief guest.
Buzdar said that the Lahore Ring Road Southern Loop-III will be constructed from Raiwind Road to Multan Road under the public-private partnership.
The meeting approved starting Rawalpindi Ring Road Project under public-private partnership mode with a cost of Rs50 billion. The meeting also gave in-principle approval to appoint a transaction adviser for ten other projects and endorsed the decisions made in the 3rd meeting. Secretary Board and member PPP cell Dr Farrukh Naveed briefed about PPP mode projects.
Addressing the meeting, the CM stated that every promise made with the residents of Rawalpindi will be fulfilled and hoped the ring road will solve the traffic problems besides boosting economic activities. He directed that there should be no delay in the timeline and necessary matters should be expedited adding that the government will provide full support in this regard.
The CM also directed to minimize the processing time adding that PPP mode projects should be on-ground without any delay. A suitable mechanism should be devised to early start the PPP mode projects while giving due attention to the legal aspects.
He disclosed that the Punjab government will start construction work of Sheikhupura-Gujranwala road in the next few days. Public-private partnership mode should be encouraged for the construction of hospitals in future and a comprehensive business model be devised for the said purpose, he said.
