:lol: true dat.. plus it's old now.. so i'm guessing these pics are old too.??..

more than 50% development funds of punjab are spent only on Lahore city

^^Every part of Pakistan deserves equal level of development... But unfortunately it doesn't happen in our country.

^^Every part of Pakistan deserves equal level of development... But unfortunately it doesn't happen in our country.

80% of dvelopment funds of sindh are spent in Karachi

more than 50% development funds of punjab are spent only on Lahore city

How much tax is collected from other towns with the exception of Faisalabad or Sialkot ?

haha, i agree with dervash and shakeelahmedch, Lahore desrves even more funds, its population is over 12 million and increasing..... do think all the critic friends....

How much tax is collected from other towns with the exception of Faisalabad or Sialkot ?

mere bhai if you're gonna develop other areas then tax will be collected from there too. sorry to say there's always negligence of south punjab by the provincial govt. even i can see that n i'm not even from punjab.

due to such type of thinking the voice of separate province from south punjab is cming

Yeah, create a new province and get even less money. Great thinking!!! In case you don't know, Karachi and Lahore are net contributors.

! In case you don't know, Karachi and Lahore are net contributors.

read my post..

There's a thread about more provinces in the "Purani Jeans" section:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=195599

I support 32 provinces in Pakistan based on the old districts. That way there will be 32 provincial capitals and development will be spread more evenly around the country.

mere bhai if you're gonna develop other areas then tax will be collected from there too. sorry to say there's always negligence of south punjab by the provincial govt. even i can see that n i'm not even from punjab.

I'm not saying that I don't want my single penny for other part of country ... it should go there but people should quite whining as there is no tax collection from other areas. I pay 30,000/- PKR monthly tax and I effin want these roads built in my city ...

And I am not against splitting Punjab or any other provinces, it needs to be on administrative basis rather than based on ethnicity. It would be more beneficial for North Punjab or real Punjab if the separation is done.

Keep in mind that there's no tax on agriculture, so if all those agri cities in Punjab don't get an development then they deserve it. Fuck them. Pay taxes or GTFO.

yep i agree with Saimu. Our Agriculture/Textile industry is subsidized by Governament meaning either they pay less tax or no tax. Lahore being the biggest city deserves more roads and facilities. I am not saying Multan, Rawalpindi or other smaller city don't deserve this. Once Ring road is complete then Punjab governament can invest on other smaller cities. Its just that return of investment on big cities is more than small cities :)

Lahore, Karachi have a lot of corporate taxing. And Karachi having two ports creates more revenue for taxing than any other part of Pakistan. Siamu is Right. There is so much other shit that needs to be taxed. Not just agriculture, other aspects like Textiles, Factories, Plants Etc. If there was proper taxing in Faisalabad, Peshawar, Pindi, these cities would also be highly developed like Khi, Lhr.

Garden Town Main Boulevard: Road widening incomplete as deadline looms

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af117/Ahmadrashid/working01-PHOTOS-EXPRESS-IJAZ-MAHMOOD-640x480.jpg

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af117/Ahmadrashid/working-PHOTOS-EXPRESS-IJAZ-MAHMOOD-640x480.jpg

The three month deadline set by the Lahore Development Authority general body for the widening of Garden Town’s Main Boulevard on February 28 has passed, yet work on one section of the road has not yet been completed.

An LDA spokesman said the delay was caused because they were making sure that no compromise was made on quality. He said the widening of both sections of the road would be complete by the end of July.

Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency director Israr Saeed, who is in charge of the project, was not available for comment.

So far, work on the section of road from Kalma Chowk up to the Y-junction near Barkat Market is partially complete. The section from the Y-junction to the underpass is yet to begin. The LDA has already moved machinery to the other section without first completing work on the first half.

The widening of the road was needed to facilitate traffic to and from the underpass under construction at Kalma Chowk.

Under the project plan, the LDA was to widen the Main Boulevard from Kalma Chowk through the Y-Junction up to the Campus underpass on the Canal Road to a six-lane dual carriageway. The width of service lanes was to be widened to six metres.

The delay has caused severe inconvenience for the residents in areas surroundings the road. They said their travel time between home and work had increased since the start of widening work and that they had to suffer through several traffic jams a day. Business people said their sales had gone down because customers preferred travelling a few extra miles to other markets rather than taking their vehicles on the dilapidated road.

The project will cost the LDA Rs. 309 million.

Yeah, create a new province and get even less money. Great thinking!!! In case you don't know, Karachi and Lahore are net contributors.

There are also many organizations which are paying tax regularly. There is a food Factory near my house. And giving 18 crore rupees tax to the govt. but still not facilitated with road even there is no severage line.
A study of world bank shows that gont of punjab spending 45000 rupees on a citizen of Lahore. but spending only 3400 rupees on a citizen of Rahim yar khan and only 156 rupees on a citizen of Jhang.
There are many large organizations such as Fatima Furtalizers, Gibs foods, Pak Arab Furtelizers. foji furtalizers, Uni leaver Factory and many more. these organizations are giving billions of rupees as tax but dont know where that huge money is used.
Dear brother only think that only the development of Lahore or Central Punjab can be said the development of whole punjab or Pakistan???

Lahore restoration project aims to revive old city's lustrePlans are afoot to restore one-mile route through medieval walled city as part of £7m conservation scheme


Share Saeed Shah in Lahore guardian.co.uk, Thursday 26 May 2011 18.45 BST Article history
The project hopes to restore the area around the Wazir Khan mosque in the walled city of old Lahore. Photograph: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images
Like a precious old treasure, lost and almost forgotten, Lahore's medieval walled city, a labyrinth of alleyways and bazaars, has suffered so much neglect that decay has nearly consumed it.

Now the first serious conservation project is about to begin, to restore a tiny portion of a once grandiose metropolis and seat of power, where Mughal princes, poets and courtesans mingled in the shadow of the royal fort and colossal Badshahi mosque just beyond its walls.

The Royal Trail, a route through the old city used by the former Mughal rulers of India to reach their palatial citadel, will be restored under a project starting this summer, backed by the Punjab provincial government and the World Bank.

The one-mile route winds by some of the city's greatest riches, including the beautifully adorned Shahi Hammam baths and the early 17th-century Wazir Khan mosque, covered in brilliantly colourful fresco and tile decoration.

Modernity has been the real vandal, with deterioration especially rapid over the past 30 years, when many of the old city's wealthy families fled its narrow, congested streets and architectural riches were turned into warehouses and cottage factories, as the area descended into squalor and low-rent commerce.

"It's so painful what I've seen. Such beautiful houses there were here, now gone," said Iqbal Hussain, an artist who lives in the towering 300-year-old brothel-mansion where he was born, and which he uses as a studio to paint the old city's prostitutes with unnerving realism. "I'm the only one left here. No one is bothered."

A 1988 conservation plan found that 1,427 surviving buildings were so important they were in need of immediate legal protection, which never materialised. An audit of those buildings in 2007 found that only 647 had survived.

Today, architectural gems stand in a painful state of decay, unnoticed amid the clutter. The old city has become so unappealing that the population has declined, from 200,000 in 1958 to some 145,000, while the rest of Lahore has ballooned.

Many old buildings and beautiful facades are hidden behind ugly modern extensions, while monstrous concrete structures have replaced buildings that collapsed or were pulled down. But amid the rot, a vibrant quintessentially Lahori culture and unique way of life still exists.

"Whatever is left, we can save. The atmosphere is still here, the ambiance. At one time, this was [all of] Lahore," said Yousaf Salahuddin, one of the few people from a noble old city family who still live there, in the sprawling 350-year-old Barood Khana mansion. "The good thing is that at least something, some restoration, is starting. This place was becoming a slum."

There are 52 main specialist bazaars, selling for everything from cloth, spices and bangles to kitchen utensils. Food stalls line every street, with sizzling, spicy specialities. The cramped streets are bustling with hawkers, men pushing handcarts laden with goods, rickshaws, motorcycles, people hurrying in all directions.

The restoration scheme has funding of £7m. Several hundred million might be required to cover the whole old city.

Masood Khan, of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, advising on the restoration, said that truck and bus terminals on the edge of the old city were choking it with pollution and traffic to serve the factories, warehouses and markets within. Those transport hubs would have to be moved as part of any serious attempt to save the old city.

"There has been a complete abdication of municipal responsibility," said Khan. "Commerce has expanded like a cancer and eaten into the historic fabric."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/26/lahore-restoration-project-old-city?CMP=twt_gu

There are also many organizations which are paying tax regularly. There is a food Factory near my house. And giving 18 crore rupees tax to the govt. but still not facilitated with road even there is no severage line.
A study of world bank shows that gont of punjab spending 45000 rupees on a citizen of Lahore. but spending only 3400 rupees on a citizen of Rahim yar khan and only 156 rupees on a citizen of Jhang.
There are many large organizations such as Fatima Furtalizers, Gibs foods, Pak Arab Furtelizers. foji furtalizers, Uni leaver Factory and many more. these organizations are giving billions of rupees as tax but dont know where that huge money is used.
Dear brother only think that only the development of Lahore or Central Punjab can be said the development of whole punjab or Pakistan???

Dude, almost all of these factories have their head-offices either in Lahore or Karachi ... also start voting smart .. people down here know that if there is no work, there is no vote whoever it may be. Gaillani has already spent more on Multan from federal funds, I doubt provincial govt. would even touch Multan while the PPP is sitting in federal govt but this would go away from the topic so less said the better.

Bhatta Chowk Development Project:

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Bhatta Chowk:

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Courtesy: Lahore real estate

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af117/Ahmadrashid/6-4-2011_72559_1.jpg
111 CNG buses in Lahore

Lake City Residential Scheme:

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Garden Town Road Extend Project:

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The Lahore Transport Company is implementing a project of new 2000 buses for the citizens of provincial capital.

Local and foreign investors are showing keen interest in executing this plan while relevant formalities are being fulfilled in order to implement the plan expeditiously. High pressure CNG stations will be set up in order to cater CNG buses in collaboration with Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd. Transporters and representatives of civil society would be given due weightage in formulating urban transport policy.

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af117/Ahmadrashid/3d5f415fdf2b8df85572bc1cfc7fff44.jpg

This was supposed to be completed in 2009. I think with the speed they are going, when this will complete (they are doing extention because there is less space for all members of provincial assembly to sit) Punjab will obviously be divided uptil then...

http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx97/friendbest123/6-7-2011_147508_1gif.jpg

^^ good news...someone plz post some pics

Bhatta Chowk Development Project:

tfXoa2hvnCM


mashalla looking very good now :)

Garden Town Road Extend Project:

vusDbT0MyNw

lets see if they can complete Garden town road extension by May 30th.

Any news about Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System??????

http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx97/friendbest123/6-7-2011_147508_1gif.jpg

I saw this coaster running on Mall Rd.... and it goes till LUMS. 20 RS Stop to Stop is very expensive in my opinion but I haven't traveled on buses so can't say what is the general rate now a days.

Some 10 years ago they started Metro buses (air-con Mitsubishi coasters with nice seats and no standing allowed) on Sh-e-Faisal and I think back then the ticket was Rs. 15, IIRC. Were wildly popular.

I saw this coaster running on Mall Rd.... and it goes till LUMS. 20 RS Stop to Stop is very expensive in my opinion but I haven't traveled on buses so can't say what is the general rate now a days.

I don't know exactly but I read in newspaper that stop to stop fare is Rs. 15 but it lessens as the stops increases. i.e Rs. 15 upto 1st stop, Rs. 17 upto 2nd stop & so on...


How many buses are operational at the moment? Anyone know?

http://www.express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110610/Sub_Images/1101260908-1.jpg
http://www.express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110610/Sub_Images/1101260908-2.gif

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Rs1.1bn for sports, parking facilities

To provide parking and sports facilities to Lahorites, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) on Thursday decided to execute various development projects at a cost of Rs1.1 billion.

The development schemes will include construction of three parking plazas in different localities, development of a cricket ground at G-Block of Sabzazar Housing Scheme as well as two pedestrian overhead bridges in front of Children’s Hospital Complex on Ferozepur Road and outside Shaikh Zayed Hospital on Khyaban-i-Jamia Punjab.

The LDA has also decided to upgrade its model schools for boys in Allama Iqbal Town and Sabazar to higher secondary level.

These decisions were taken at LDA’s governing body meeting held here under the chairmanship of the district coordination officer and LDA chairman Ahad Khan Cheema.

It was decided that the authority would establish parking plazas on Hall Road, Nila Gumbad and Moon Market (Iqbal Town) to facilitate motorcyclists and motorists.

The governing body unanimously approved Rs39.6 million for the construction of a four-storey parking plaza on Hall Road, Rs390 million for the parking plaza at Nila Gumbad and Rs590 million for a 10-storey plaza with two commercial floors at Moon Market.

The authority will also spend Rs58.9 million on the construction of two overhead bridges for pedestrians on Ferozepur Road and Khyaban-i-Jamia Punjab. At least Rs46.20 million will be incurred on the development of a cricket ground in Sabzazar.

"Khyaban-i-Jamia Punjab" is this at PU?

"Khyaban-i-Jamia Punjab" is this at PU?

Yes, PU New Campus.

"Khyaban-i-Jamia Punjab" is this at PU?

The road from Barkat Market Chowk to Bhekewal More is called "Khyaban-i-Jamia Punjab"

^^ thanks

completed canal bank road (To EME/Valecia/Bahria Town)...

http://www.hcs.com.pk/images/Canal%20Road/31.jpg
http://www.hcs.com.pk/images/Canal%20Road/30.jpg
http://www.hcs.com.pk/images/Canal%20Road/29.jpg
http://www.hcs.com.pk/images/Canal%20Road/28.jpg
http://www.hcs.com.pk/images/Canal%20Road/27.jpg
http://www.hcs.com.pk/images/Canal%20Road/26.jpg
http://www.hcs.com.pk/images/Canal%20Road/25.jpg

Sweet... :) :) :) :) :) :) :):banana:

Looking nice...

I think the quality of work of HCS is very impressive.

http://nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Regional/Lahore/21-Jun-2011/Another-Aashiyana-scheme-in-City

LAHORE – Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday announced starting a second Aashiyana Housing Scheme in Lahore, which will have some 15,000 to 20,000 houses. He said work was speedily in progress on such schemes in Lahore, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Jhelum and Sahiwal, while the scope of the project would be extended to 16 more districts during the next year.

“Planning is also being made expeditiously for the second Aashiyana Housing Scheme in Lahore where a small city of 15,000 to 20,000 houses will be built. All basic amenities will be made available in these houses,” the CM?said while talking to Assembly Members of various districts.

The CM said the Pakistan Muslim League-N, under the leadership of its Quaid Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, was utilising all available resources for the welfare of the people and speedy development of the province and a comprehensive strategy had been adopted for bringing the deprived segments of the society into national mainstream.

He said Daanish schools for the poor and Aashiyana housing scheme for low-income people were examples in this regard. “The Aashiyana Housing Scheme is not the name of a project, but of a vision which will bridge the widening gulf between the rich and the poor and transform the despair and deprivations of the poor into hope and joys,” he said, while mentioning that it was for the first time in the history of the country that residential schemes equipped with modern amenities had been launched for the poor and the common man, and the Aashiyana Housing Project was being furthered in accordance with the philosophy of public service of Nawaz Sharif and his party.

Driving on this newly constructed canal bank road from TNB to Bahria town is lovely and so peacefull at the moment :drool:

I think HCS is a good addition in our road building sector..it has a professional management comprising of a group of engineers ...

Driving on this newly constructed canal bank road from TNB to Bahria town is lovely and so peacefull at the moment :drool:

is it completed all the way to BT now?

^^ Yep...

Ring Road’s lane closed for bikers
Published: June 21, 2011
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LAHORE – City Traffic Police have shut down the main lane of Ring Road for motorcyclists while the service lane would remain open for all kind of vehicular traffic.
There are two lanes including main track and service lane. Main track is used for cars and speeding vehicles and minimum speed has been fixed as 110 kilometer per hour while the service lane is used for rest of the vehicles. Talking to TheNation, the Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) SSP Syed Ahmed Mobin said that the decision of closing the main track of motorcyclists had been initiated in their interests. “The ratio of accidents on Ring Road has increased during the last couple of month due to several reasons,” he said. He said the speed-gun had been fixed to detect the fast moving vehicles beyond their speed limits. “The traffic wardens have been strictly directed to issue challan to those vehicles who are involved in violation of traffic rules,” he added. Though one-wheeling is banned in the City, but there are still some areas which are not under proper watch and where this practice is common, a motorist said adding that for example the Ring Road is used by many bike riders for this harmful practice.

is it completed all the way to BT now?

Yes its now 100% complete all the way to Bahria town!

Ring Road’s lane closed for bikers
Published: June 21, 2011
Print Facebook Digg StumbleUpon Text Size
LAHORE – City Traffic Police have shut down the main lane of Ring Road for motorcyclists while the service lane would remain open for all kind of vehicular traffic.
There are two lanes including main track and service lane. Main track is used for cars and speeding vehicles and minimum speed has been fixed as 110 kilometer per hour while the service lane is used for rest of the vehicles. Talking to TheNation, the Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) SSP Syed Ahmed Mobin said that the decision of closing the main track of motorcyclists had been initiated in their interests. “The ratio of accidents on Ring Road has increased during the last couple of month due to several reasons,” he said. He said the speed-gun had been fixed to detect the fast moving vehicles beyond their speed limits. “The traffic wardens have been strictly directed to issue challan to those vehicles who are involved in violation of traffic rules,” he added. Though one-wheeling is banned in the City, but there are still some areas which are not under proper watch and where this practice is common, a motorist said adding that for example the Ring Road is used by many bike riders for this harmful practice.

Good decision! :banana: And they have also placed "Entry prohibited" sign boards at some of the entry points same like those at the Motroways (No entry for cycles, bikes, carts, rikshaws etc.)

Main Boulevard, Garden Town (Going from Kalma Chowk to Y Junction):

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5277/5861387600_8ae541dd9b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3094/5861388502_81abe363d5.jpg

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http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3145/5861389298_5a9c8bfce5.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5193/5860835379_aa046ea20c.jpg

West side = Road is almost complete
East side = Half of the road is complete

Bahria Town New Mall Entertainment:

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Food Street - Mughalpura:

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it is very good

Says CM Shahbaz Sharif in this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&hl=en-GB&v=5vtEN-5M-i8)here:

Also this news piece (http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/01/garhi-shahu-turns-into-a-traffic-mess-while-tepa-slumbers/)is instructive.

Waste management: New set up to restore ‘clean and beautiful’ city

The City District Government of Lahore (CDGL) signed over responsibility for keeping the streets clean to the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) on Saturday. The managing director of the company said they would soon implement two plans to make the city “beautiful and clean”.

Under an agreement signed at the Town Hall by District Coordination Officer (DCO) Ahad Khan Cheema and LWMC managing director Dr Waseem Ajmal, all assets, staff and machinery of the city government’s Solid Waste Management department has been transferred to the LWMC for a lease of 20 years. The pay of daily wagers has been raised by Rs25-40 per day.

The LWMC will now be responsible for “managing, controlling and monitoring of existing procedures, processes, actions, activities, facilities, operations, schemes, plans, programmes and assets of the CDGL directly or indirectly related to generation, collection, separation, storage, rescue, recycling, transportation, transfer, reduction, treatment and disposal of solid waste.”

The city government, however, will still look after “pensions, gratuity, medical charges, prosecution of offenders, handling and defending court cases regarding SWM, carrying out disciplinary proceedings of employees [and] matters arising out of environmental liabilities.” The SWM District Office will monitor “agreed key performance indicators”.

The LWMC had already been responsible for waste management in six of the city’s 150 union councils. It will get Rs2.5 billion annually from the Punjab government to perform its operations.

Lahore Commissioner Nadeem Hassan Asif said that the SWM department had failed because of “organisational incapability”. “We tried to rehabilitate the SWM department with new techniques but didn’t get the desired results,” he said.

Asif said no employees, permanent or work-charge, would be laid off. The company had increased the daily wages of unskilled workers from Rs275 to Rs300, semi-skilled workers from Rs290 to Rs320 and of skilled workers from Rs450 to Rs490, he said.

Ajmal, the LWMC managing director, said that 40 professionals including environmentalists and engineers had worked for them since last year and now that the company was finally operational, they would be deployed in the field “to make Lahore a beautiful and clean city”. The SWM employed 10,000 people of whom just two had passed intermediate and one was an engineer, he said.

He said that the company had drawn up two plans for Lahore. “One will be implemented soon and the other within a couple of months in collaboration with different companies.

The citizens will clearly see the difference in the coming days,” he said.
The LWMC signed an agreement with Turkish company ISTAC in December 2010 to act as operational and technical consultants on good practices in waste management. Experts from the company reviewed the LWMC’s systems in Lahore in January.

Another underpass along canal road planned

http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/200094-underpass-1309477793-278-640x480.jpg

The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) plans to construct an underpass near Royal Palm Golf and Country Club to improve the traffic flow.

The underpass is the last one along the canal in the northern part of the city.

Israr Saeed, the Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning Agency (TEPA) director, told The Express Tribune that construction of the underpass is likely to begin in July. He said that the chief minister wanted its construction to begin soon.

The underpass, called Chawbucha Underpass, will be 1.3 kilometres (km) long and have three lanes on each side. It will be built under the Chawbucha railway crossing. One of the railway lines here leads to India and the other is used for shunting purposes.

Saeed said that a feasibility report had already been completed by the National Engineering Services (NESPAK). The Chawbucha crossing is closed several times a day, causing huge traffic jams. Once the project is successfully completed, the LDA say, one will be able to drive from one end of the canal to another without a major hurdle. The cost of the project has been estimated at Rs1.7 billion. Out of this Rs0.4 billion will be used to acquire land and Rs1.3 billion for construction purposes. LDA will acquire the 40 kanals land for the underpass from the Pakistan Railways, the Irrigation Department, WAPDA and some residents along a shrine next to one of the railway crossings.

Besides the 40 kanals of land, the LDA will also require a 50-foot corridor along the 1.3 km road on one side to add width to the road. Presently, the road is about 30-40 feet wide. The other side of the road has sufficient width in green belts. An LDA official said that funds for the project will be generated by the LDA through commercialisation fees. However, the LDA has requested the chief minister to provide the funds initially. The chief minister’s response to the request is expected next week, he said.

Saeed said that negotiations with the departments for land acquisition have already started. He said the project is expected to be completed by next year.

Saeed said that after the project is completed, the only bottleneck left on the route will be Lal Pul near Mughalpura.

The LDA is planning to widen the road at the point to ease traffic flow, he added.

“The name of the underpass might be changed,” he said. Saeed hoped that work on the Canal Road widening project would also begin soon, once the Supreme Court cleared the way.

^^ Good news .. there are huge traffic blocking at this spot ...

Another underpass along canal road planned

“The name of the underpass might be changed,” he said. Saeed hoped that work on the Canal Road widening project would also begin soon, once the Supreme Court cleared the way.

I really hope so :( got stuck today for half an hour at canal road near campus underpass :mad:

^^ Ya, canal road widening project is very important, I too had to struck for half an hour twice a day...

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif presided over a meeting here today regarding provision of better transport facilities to the masses. Provincial Minister for Transport Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Chairman Lahore Transport Company Khawaja Ahmad Hasaan, Chairman Planning & Development, Secretary Transport and Secretary Finance were present.

Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said that provision of a comfortable and reliable transport system to the people is among the priorities of the government and measures are being taken for this purpose.

He said that substantial funds have been allocated in the budget for providing modern transport facilities to the citizens. He said that provision of better transport facilities to the people is of vital importance and maximum resources will be provided for this purpose.

He said that Daewoo, Hyundai, Hino and other companies should be contacted for acquiring 500 buses as early as possible.

He said that he want to see new buses on the roads of the provincial metropolis as soon as possible and a briefing be given to him after evolving a comprehensive strategy for this purpose.

He further directed that a package be formulated also for providing better transport facilities to the people of Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Multan. He said that work on Bus Rapid Transit System be started as soon as possible after settling all matters.

Chairman Lahore Transport Company Khawaja Ahmad Hasaan informed about the measures taken for providing transport facilities to the people and acquisition of new buses.

He said that ten air-conditioned coasters have started plying from Defence to Civil Secretariat and the scope of this project will further be extended.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that like Daanish schools, Aashiyana, Green Tractors, Yellow Cab and other projects will also be implemented in a highly transparent manner to reduce unemployment.

He was talking to media-men during inspection of yellow cabs here on Thursday. Senator Pervaiz Rashid was also present on the occasion.

He said that Yellow Cab scheme would result in job opportunities to the youth and they would be offered interest-free loans for the purchase of vehicles. He said that only those elements are criticizing the projects aimed at welfare of the poor who looted billions and trillions of rupees and in whose tenure, a free hand was given to Qabza groups, while huge sums were plundered in the name of development projects.

The Chief Minister said that Punjab government had taken solid measures in the budget for elimination of unemployment, including provision of loans to 100,000 youth to enable them stand on their own feet as well as support their families.

no news about the LRMTS??? where is that chinese company!!

^^ No idea, no news regarding that....:(

Punjab govt hands over SWM to private firm

* CDGL to pay Rs 2.5bn per annum to keep the city clean
* J Salik threatens to launch movement against ‘privatisation’ of SWM Dept

Employees of the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Department and human rights activists have alleged that the Punjab government was planning to embezzle Rs 2.5 billion by illegally handing over SWM to a private firm.

The City District Government of Lahore (CDGL) had recently signed an agreement with Lahore Waste Management Company under which the government will give the private company Rs 2.5 billion per annum to keep the city clean.

The company was also handed over the charge of more than 10,000 sanitary workers and other employees of the Solid Waste Management Department of the CDGL with all other facilities. However, the government has promised that the company will not sack any employee and that their salaries will be increased from 30 to 50 percent.

Talking to Daily Times, the former federal minister and convener of World Minorities Alliance J Salik said that he was set to launch a protest campaign against the Punjab government on the call of more than 10,000 sanitary workers against privatisation of the department.

He said that it was not only a conspiracy to deprive thousands of workers, mostly Christians, of their livelihood but the perpetrators of the idea, including Pakistan Muslim League leader Khawaja Ahmad Hassan and others were also planning to embezzle the money in the name of this project.

He said that it was the duty of the government to protect minorities but the rulers were unable to fulfill their constitutional duty and now they were targeting the already underprivileged class of society.

He said that he was working on all options and might also move the court if the decision was not reversed. He added that the rulers were misguiding the workers by promising that they were bringing foreign investment in the country but actually their own cronies were running this private firm and they were planning to embezzle a huge amount from the public and the department employees.

Another minorities’ rights activist and the Lahore-based MPA Pervaiz Rafique told Daily Times that the decision was not only illogical but also aimed to deprive thousands of Christians and other poor citizens of their jobs.

He said that the rulers were aiming to execute this plan right from the beginning but it took them so long due to the massive resistance by the employees. He said that he was also in touch with the department employees and they were devising a future strategy to cope with this situation.

He said that it was a sorry state of affairs that minorities were not given equal job opportunities and they were only left to do janitorial work.
He also said that common citizens would also face the brunt of this decision as the company was entitled to increase the sanitation tax and it was likely that they would increase the fees to a massive degree in future in order to make maximum profit.

The Punjab government spokesperson, Lahore commissioner and the district coordination officer refrained from commenting on the issue despite repeated requests and phone calls.

I really hope so :( got stuck today for half an hour at canal road near campus underpass :mad:

The irony, you got stuck at the underpass!

Does that say anything about if under passes are really a solution to the mess on Canal Bank Road! (NO, widening is not a solution!)

Haha, might as well make the entire road an Under-ground road,

^^ Ya, canal road widening project is very important, I too had to struck for half an hour twice a day...

While you were stuck on the road, did you try think of the reasons why you are stuck on that road?

Was it:
- the road width
- irregular/no-rules-followed traffic
- the poor quality of the road surface
- no painted lanes
- pedestrian or non motorized traffic
- traffic on connecting roads
- the number of cars
- encroachment of fruit sellers etc

??

Lets figure out what causes jams on the canal road.

While you were stuck on the road, did you try think of the reasons why you are stuck on that road?

Was it:
- the road width YES
- irregular/no-rules-followed traffic NO
- the poor quality of the road surface NO
- no painted lanes Canal road has painted lanes
- pedestrian or non motorized trafficCanal road barely has this problem!
- traffic on connecting roadsNO
- the number of carsYES
- encroachment of fruit sellers etc You will never see a fruit seller or any other encroachment on canal road (for the portion which we are talking about)

??

Lets figure out what causes jams on the canal road.

So now what do you say?

Widening of canal road is a solution if u compare this with patch between Muslim Town underpass & PU underpass...

there was court hearing on Monday 7/4 about this issue any one knows the outcome?

What outcome should be expected from the court? It most definetly would be delayed again!

http://i863.photobucket.com/albums/ab196/mohsintufail/Misc/LDAAdJang04072011.jpg

well its a good move but a the same time I hope we don't have bunch of Shah Alamis every where now

Orya set to return to Walled City project

Former Walled City Project Director-General Orya Maqbool Jan on Thursday briefed PML-N patron Nawaz Sharif on the project at the CM Secretariat.

This has raised prospects of Orya’s return to the programme. At present the project is headed by Naheed Rizvi.

Sources told Dawn on Thursday that though the Punjab government was yet to make any official announcement in this regard, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif had given a green signal to Mr Jan’ to resume the office of the project DG after he gave an ‘impressive’ presentation to him in the presence of the sitting DG at a meeting held at 90-Shahrah-i-Quaid-i-Azam.

They said the core objective of the three-hour long meeting was to brief the PML-N chief on the Walled City project, its inception, objectives and recommendations.

The purpose of the meeting was also to give an update about various other development projects launched within territorial jurisdiction of the Walled City. They included proposed food street and construction/rehabilitation of roads, streets and infrastructure, sources said.

An official told this correspondent, on the request of anonymity, Mr Jan also told the PML-N chief that the World Bank was financially assisting the project by providing 45 per cent of the funds of the total project cost as soft loan while the Punjab government was funding the rest of the project.

After presentation, Mr Sharif asked Mr Jan about tentative date of conclusion of the training course and the latter said he would be free within a week.

“We will soon bring you back on this important project on your return from the training course,” the official quoted Mr Sharif as having said. He (Mr Sharif) also issued necessary instructions to the officials concerned in this regard.

He said actually the PML-N chief wanted Mr Jan back on project DG slot after he learnt about his skills and experience on the rehabilitation and conservation subject.

Mr Jan confirmed that he made an elaborate presentation about the project before the PML-N chief on Thursday. “I was specially called as an expert to brief the PML-N patron on the project. Mr Sharif appreciated the briefing and asked about my upcoming schedule,” he said.

He refused to comment on other issues, including his expected posting.

Walled City Project DG Naheed Rizvi refused to comment on Thursday’s development.

Punjab government spokesman Senator Pervaiz Rashid, who also attended the meeting, said actually PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif was of the opinion that the pace of work on the project was slow and it should be completed in time. “That’s why he himself presided over the meeting and said experienced people should be involved in the project to complete it effectively keeping in view its complexity and importance,” he said.

He said Mr Sharif during meeting asked Mr Jan about his present assignments and training course but he didn’t give any hint about seeking his service for the project.

http://express.com.pk/epaper/PoPupwindow.aspx?newsID=1101282586&Issue=NP_LHE&Date=20110709

News relating to the LRMTS.. check it out and correct me if m wrong.. i just hope that they'll start working on it soon!

News relating to the LRMTS.. check it out and correct me if m wrong.. i just hope that they'll start working on it soon!


We are on page 217 of this thread, I clicked 117 and then clicked page-17 and found a news related to metro posted by me in april 2006 :lol::lol::lol:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=312397&page=17

Some plans are to stay on papers :cheers:

http://express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110709/Sub_Images/1101282586-1.gif
Courtesy: Creative_Connections

Hopefully, they will start soon...

CHINESE company, Norenko, will execute the Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System (LRMTS) project from Shahdara to Gajjomatta at a cost of 1.87 billion dollars.

This was stated by Chairman Khawaja Ahmed Hassaan while addressing a meeting with an 8-member Chinese delegation at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat here on Friday.

He said Chinese cooperation in strengthening the urban transport sector of Lahore was commendable and it would be instrumental in promoting mutual trust and friendship between Pakistan and China.

He said the Chinese delegation included experts of transport engineering who would finalise their technical proposal and initial design of LRMTS on 27Km project from Shahdara to Gajjomatta. He also said the Chinese delegation would stay in Lahore for 10 days and conduct survey of the route.

Hassaan said Norenko would not get any profit from the project. He said the Chinese experts would provide technical assistance in implementing urban transport projects.

He said equal opportunities of investment had been provided to local and foreign investors, adding that keen interest of China in Urban transport sector was primarily the result of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s visit to China.

The Lahore commissioner, secretary Finance, chief executive LTC JI Kim, General managers of LTC and other senior officers also participated in the meeting.

Garden town Main Boulevard construction updates:

V7XsIIsawwo

^^ CIty42 is awesome channel .. very specific to city issues and all.

CHINESE company, Norenko, will execute the Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System (LRMTS) project from Shahdara to Gajjomatta at a cost of 1.87 billion dollars.

This was stated by Chairman Khawaja Ahmed Hassaan while addressing a meeting with an 8-member Chinese delegation at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat here on Friday.

He said Chinese cooperation in strengthening the urban transport sector of Lahore was commendable and it would be instrumental in promoting mutual trust and friendship between Pakistan and China.

He said the Chinese delegation included experts of transport engineering who would finalise their technical proposal and initial design of LRMTS on 27Km project from Shahdara to Gajjomatta. He also said the Chinese delegation would stay in Lahore for 10 days and conduct survey of the route.

Hassaan said Norenko would not get any profit from the project. He said the Chinese experts would provide technical assistance in implementing urban transport projects.

He said equal opportunities of investment had been provided to local and foreign investors, adding that keen interest of China in Urban transport sector was primarily the result of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s visit to China.

The Lahore commissioner, secretary Finance, chief executive LTC JI Kim, General managers of LTC and other senior officers also participated in the meeting.

these guys need to come on ground now.... this project must be started asap...

u/c overhead bridge near children hospital
http://www.express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110712/Sub_Images/1101284706-1.jpg

http://express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110713/Sub_Images/1101285578-2.gif
new fly over on Canal and Frzpur rd.... nice.... I hope they make this one just like zero point ISB

http://express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110713/Sub_Images/1101285578-2.gif
new fly over on Canal and Frzpur rd.... nice.... I hope they make this one just like zero point ISB

i already told u...CM already have a plan for ferozpur rd to do a signal free road... thr is already flyover which is called kanchi bridge n now kalma chowk flyover n thn he gonaa build overhead bridge on canal road.... so ferozpur road gonaa be another signalfree rd in the future....:)

LAHORE – Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said the Chinese cooperation with Punjab will add a new chapter to the Pak-China friendship. He was talking to Mr Zhang Shiping, the Vice-President of China’s international company, NORINCO, on Tuesday.
Various aspects of the Lahore Mass Transit Project were discussed on the occasion.

Under the project, a 27-km railway track would be laid in the provincial metropolis. The 7-km portion of the track, between Gajumata and Shahdara on the Ferozepur Road, will be underground.

The CM told Mr Zhang Shiping that though development organisations of China were known for their speed, they would not find the Punjab government lagging behind. Mr Shiping announced, on behalf of NORINCO, the surrendering of its profit in the project. He said: “China wanted to present the LMTP as a living example of the Pak-China friendship.”
Planning & Development Chairman Khawaja Ahmed Hassan, Transport and Finance secretaries were also present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Government spokesman has said that after Taunsa Power Project, the LMTP was the second biggest achievement resulting from Shahbaz Sharif’s recent visit to China.
“The work on the project will start this year, and the Punjab Government is ready to welcome Chinese engineers and experts in this regard,” he said.

:cheers:

i already told u...CM already have a plan for ferozpur rd to do a signal free road... thr is already flyover which is called kanchi bridge n now kalma chowk flyover n thn he gonaa build overhead bridge on canal road.... so ferozpur road gonaa be another signalfree rd in the future....:)

Ferozpur road still needs atleast 6-8 flyovers to be signal free & most of the area, where signals are placed, don't have enough space for flyover construction, so signal free Ferozpur road is a far cry...

^^ Good news...

LAHORE – Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said the Chinese cooperation with Punjab will add a new chapter to the Pak-China friendship. He was talking to Mr Zhang Shiping, the Vice-President of China’s international company, NORINCO, on Tuesday.
Various aspects of the Lahore Mass Transit Project were discussed on the occasion.

Under the project, a 27-km railway track would be laid in the provincial metropolis. The 7-km portion of the track, between Gajumata and Shahdara on the Ferozepur Road, will be underground.

The CM told Mr Zhang Shiping that though development organisations of China were known for their speed, they would not find the Punjab government lagging behind. Mr Shiping announced, on behalf of NORINCO, the surrendering of its profit in the project. He said: “China wanted to present the LMTP as a living example of the Pak-China friendship.”
Planning & Development Chairman Khawaja Ahmed Hassan, Transport and Finance secretaries were also present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Government spokesman has said that after Taunsa Power Project, the LMTP was the second biggest achievement resulting from Shahbaz Sharif’s recent visit to China.
“The work on the project will start this year, and the Punjab Government is ready to welcome Chinese engineers and experts in this regard,” he said.

:cheers:

i certainly hope so that these guys begin soon..!!

http://www.express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110713/Sub_Images/1101285381-1.jpg

http://www.express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110713/Sub_Images/1101285381-2.gif

Can any one find and share the ad given in urdu newspapers being talked about in this news article here (http://epaper.dawn.com/ArticleText.aspx?article=10_07_2011_179_011):

MoU signed with China for mass transit

http://www.dunyanews.tv/news/2011/July/07-15-11/news_big_images/30622_40869573.jpg

Rs 1.70 billion will be spent on the project

An MoU was signed in Model Town with a Chinese company. Talking to the media on the occasion Punjab Chief Minister said the work on the project will start on August 14. The Chinese experts are conducting an initial survey.

CM said that compared to the last government Rs 700 million will be saved. The project will be completed at the earliest to solve the traffic problems.

:banana:

MoU signed with China for mass transit

Rs 1.70 billion will be spent on the project

An MoU was signed in Model Town with a Chinese company. Talking to the media on the occasion Punjab Chief Minister said the work on the project will start on August 14. The Chinese experts are conducting an initial survey.

CM said that compared to the last government Rs 700 million will be saved. The project will be completed at the earliest to solve the traffic problems.

:banana:

Inshallah hope they make it this time ^^, i cant wait for the maps to be released

Just MoU? I thought agreement was signed today....MoU means nothing

An MoU to start work in less than a month?

Inshallah hope they make it this time ^^, i cant wait for the maps to be released

The maps will be the same that have already been released many times.

best of luck for the project... i hope it will be real this time....

:banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:


At last, after a long time, the work on it is starting... It will complete inshALLAH.

best news of the century...!!

Well, work will start on August 14th for sure & will complete in 4 years according to City42...

^^

http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/jul2011-daily/15-07-2011/updates/7-15-2011_76115_1.gif

http://express.com.pk/epaper/PoPupwindow.aspx?newsID=1101287562&Issue=NP_LHE&Date=20110716

Now this project is something to look forward to.. n sorry for not being able to post the news.. i'll be thankful if someone explains it briefly.. couldn't find anything helpful.. thanks in advance!

^^

http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/jul2011-daily/15-07-2011/updates/7-15-2011_76115_1.gif

Winning.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6008/5943594639_f9e8049eeb.jpg

LAHORE – A memorandum of understanding was signed here on Friday between the Punjab government and Chinese international company NORINCO regarding the Lahore Mass Transit Project.

Under the agreement, a 27-km long Railway track will be laid from Gaju Matta on Ferozepur Road to Shahdra of which 7km long portion will be underground.
Chairman Lahore Transport Company Khawaja Ahmad Hasaan and Vice-President NORINCO Zhang Shipping signed the document on behalf of the Punjab government and China respectively. Punjab Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, MPA Mehr Ishtiaq Ahmad, high-ups of the Lahore Transport Company and representatives of NORINCO were also present on the occasion.

Talking to media on the occasion, Shahbaz Sharif welcomed the agreement and said the soft opening of the project would be made on August 14th. He that it was a unique project as the Chinese company by announcing that it would not take even a single penny as profit proved that China was a true and sincere friend of Pakistan. Shahbaz further said that the project would be an invaluable gift by the Chinese government for the people of Lahore, the Punjab as well as the whole country.

He also said there were deep-rooted relations between China and Pakistan, and China had stood by Pakistan in every hour of need and helped Pakistan wholeheartedly. ‘This friendship is reflected in the agreement with NORINCO, which is a renowned Chinese company having executed numerous projects of human development and prosperity and also set up metro systems’, he mentioned, adding, that thousands of people were benefitting from the mass transit projects executed by the company in Beijing, Shanghai and Tehran. ‘The Lahore Mass Transit Project will not only provide modern transport facilities to the people while the project will be completed by working round-the-clock’, he said.

He said that a number of agreements were signed between the Punjab government and China for cooperation in various sectors during his visit to China, including the LMT. Replying to questions of the media, he said politicians and rulers had never come up to the expectations of the masses, and now the elite had all facilities at its doorsteps, while the poor and common man were deprived of even basic amenities.

:cheers:

what's gonna happen to this project if the govt. changes??? u know we don't have a rule for completing an existing project in pakistan.. sorry for bein pessimistic but such a huge project could be in shambles once there's a change of govt. like lawari tunnel.

^^ Well, I think Chinese company must had taken these things into consideration before investing $ 1.7 billion, so in my opinion change in govt. willnot cause hurdles in LMTS...


BTW, we should open Lahore mass transit thread now...

http://www.express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110716/Sub_Images/1101287566-1.jpg

http://www.express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110716/Sub_Images/1101287566-2.gif

http://express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110716/Sub_Images/1101287562-1.jpg

http://express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110716/Sub_Images/1101287562-2.gif
Courtesy: Creative_Connections

Finally we see something good happening here in lahore.. i am sure this will go through this time as chinese are involved...

the element of doubt is only 20-30% this time around..!!

LAHORE, July 16: The Punjab government is likely to launch civil works on various sections of 27-km long (Gajjumata to Shahdara) Lahore Rapid Mass Transit (LRMT) project in collaboration with Chinese firm NORINCO by October, this year. “The Chinese firm will first prepare the project`s preliminary design within a month or so and the government, after receiving the design, will develop a formal proposal in this regard,” Lahore Transport Company`s chairman and adviser to chief minister Khwaja Ahmad Hassan told Dawn on Saturday.

He said after developing a proposal and doing necessary arrangements, the official agencies concerned would start the civil work by utilising 15 per cent funds of the total project cost it was supposed to be spent as per an agreement with the Chinese firm.

He said the Chinese firm (NORINCO) would formally start executing the project by January 2012 after completion of final design and proposal.

Mr Hassan claimed that the project would help combat the public transport issues faced by the masses in the provincial capital.

CLEAN-UP: Special teams of the City District Government of Lahore (CDGL) on Saturday removed encroachments and razed illegal structures in various localities of Allama Iqbal, Data Ganj Bakhsh, Nishtar and Shalimar towns.

LDA encroachment cell also removed encroachments in various commercial and residential areas of the city falling under its territorial jurisdiction, says a press release.

:cheers:

Previous Plan:
The length of Green Line is going to be 27 km. 11.6 km long Green Line route would be underground, while 15.4 km long would be overhead. There will be 12 underground and 10 overhead stations built on the Green Line route.

New Plan:
Under the agreement, a 27-km long Railway track will be laid from Gaju Matta on Ferozepur Road to Shahdra of which 7km long portion will be underground.

So, there are changes as compared to last plan, however we will see the latest map of LRMTS on August 14th, 2011...

Administrator and DCO Ahad Khan Cheema Tuesday approved the Annual Budget of City District Government Lahore of Rs 20.68 billions for the year 2011-12 by using his powers, bestowed upon him by Punjab Local Government Ordinance (amended) 2001.

While giving further details, District Officer (Finance) and Planning Mian Waheed said that out of the total approved amount of Rs 20,68,88500 as budget, about Rs 3.1 billion have been allocated for the completion of ongoing development projects in the City while Rs 14.11 billion have been allocated for non-development expenditures. He declares the surplus budget of Rs 112 million.

He said that a huge amount of the budget has been allocated for education, health, sanitation and special education sectors. He said that CDG would bear the extra burden of 1.8 billion, allocated for salaries, medical allowances and pensions of the employees. He said that Rs 1 billion have allocated for Citizens Community Board (CCB).

The DO further said that Rs 6.5 billion have been allocated for Education Sector, Rs 3.4 billions for municipal services while about Rs 1.4 billion have been allocated for health sector.

Construction: Allama Iqbal Road project launched (June 30th, 2011)

After years of talk of fixing the dilapidated Allama Iqbal Road, a Rs550 million plan to rehabilitate the thoroughfare was launched on Wednesday.

The project was inaugurated at a ceremony at Bohrwala Chowk attended by MNA Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Lahore Transport Company chairman Khwaja Ahmad Hassaan and District Coordination Officer (DCO) Ahad Khan Cheema.

Previously, there was a plan to widen Allama Iqbal Road into a six-lane road and build a flyover at Garhi Shahu Chowk. But the high cost of acquiring land for the project, and resistance from traders who stood to lose their plazas and shops on the main road, scuppered the plan.

Under the approved plan, the road will be rebuilt from Bohrwala Chowk to Mayo Gardens, a distance of 2.92 kilometres. Engineers will lay sewerage and water supply lines in the first phase of the project before road construction begins. The government will have to buy seven kanals to widen the road at Garhi Shahu Chowk, the busiest part of the road, but otherwise only temporary encroachments will be cleared to construct the road.

Sadiq, the local MNA, said in his speech that a flyover would eventually be built, but not as part of this project. He said work on the road would be finished by October 21.

Allama Iqbal Road: Getting worse, before it gets better

http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/216682-Traffic-1311535150-164-640x480.jpg
There had been no patch-work on the road for years. As a result the road was potted and unsafe for vehicles, says local resident.

The condition of Allama Iqbal Road has only deteriorated further one month after MNA Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and District Coordination Officer Ahad Cheema raised hopes on June 29, promising a high quality road and adequate drains in six months.

Mustajab Saeed, a resident of Garhi Shahu, said that the road had been neglected by previous governments as well. He said there had been no patch-work on the road for years. As a result the road was potted and unsafe for vehicles. He said there had been many accidents due to the poor road surface.

He said that the authorities had also not acted against shopkeepers who had illegally extended their shops to encroach on the right of way. “Completing this road is a matter of a couple of months, only if the chief minister makes it a priority,” he added.

MNA Sadiq, however, told The Express Tribune that the National Engineering and Services Pakistan (NESPAK) was designing the road and the drains along it. “I want the road to be built to such specification that it lasts for at least 15 years.” He added, “But obviously, construction cannot start during monsoon rains.” Sadiq said that the restoration work on the road will cost Rs550 million. A 14-foot deep sewer line will be laid in the first phase. Once the sewer work concludes, construction of 2.92 kilometres road will be started.

Sadiq said that WASA will likely take up to two months to lay the sewers. “I wanted high quality work. So the contract has been given to the National Logistics Cell.” Sadiq said he was focusing on the quality of work and not the deadlines.

http://express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110725/Sub_Images/1101295022-1.jpg

http://express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110725/Sub_Images/1101295022-2.gif

In today's newspaper Jang there is big plot sale annoucement adjacent to Johar Town Expo centre, This is one whole page advertisement with highrise and 5-Star hotels. Can anyone post the whole page advertisement.

He said that a huge amount of the budget has been allocated for education, health, sanitation and special education sectors.

Our politicians as ever use generics and non specific language...
what is a HUGE amount....its is huge relative to what...what is the exact figure?!

What is this figure as a percentage when compared to other expenses. how does the number compare to that spent in other cities and in other countries!

Poor MNA im sure doesnt know any more than he has been told by his secretary or the bureaucrats.

The management will never stand accountable till we can compare these numbers...what is huge and what is not will be decided then.

Aaany way!

Construction: Allama Iqbal Road project launched (June 30th, 2011)

[B]Under the approved plan, the road will be rebuilt from Bohrwala Chowk to Mayo Gardens, a distance of 2.92 kilometres.


BTW Allama Iqbal Road extends from Bohrwala Chowk till the Railway line in Dharampura which separates Lahore Cantt fror the rest of the city. So why is the reconstruction only till Mayo Gardens/Canal chowk?

(Inside Lahore Cantt the road is called Lahore Road and then onward to the east in becomes Zarrar Shaheed and then further onwards it becomes Barki Road)

Someone Post the today Jang Newspaper Johar Town plot auction AD please.

Here it is for the folks

http://e.jang.com.pk/07-26-2011/Pindi/page2.asp

http://e.jang.com.pk/07-26-2011/Pindi/page2.asp

http://e.jang.com.pk/07-26-2011/Pindi/images/main_page_images/page2.gif

WOW...Looks Massive Project.... !!!

^^ it's quite old plan I guess .... I heard this an year back but there wasn't action on it. Lets see how it goes this time. The location of this area is truly very good, very close to motorway and big roads ... an Ideal location.

I wonder if there will be any local or international party willing to buy these huge plots in current economic situation :dunno:

http://e.jang.com.pk/07-26-2011/Pindi/images/main_page_images/page2.gif
This looks awesome!!! No doubts that Lahore is the leading city of Pakistan :banana::banana::banana:

hey...its awesome.... i hope it will complete in 20 years....lol

Disney Land :sly:

Disney Land :sly:

I hope they get sued for that.

I hope they get sued for that.
Disney is not a trademark in Pakistan.

I would like to see the completion of other projects before they try getting investors for this.. They should try and bring back the company which was going to build the Mubarak centre. In my eyes that was a much better project and it would had contributed a lot to the local economy in Lahore.

I still hope that the UAE investors come back and complete it.

guys check this out...........http://www.taavun.com.pk/dhabi-profile.html

^^ They say that they have a office next to the national hockey stadium.

Is this office still there? I thought they had left Pakistan.

hope alive again.

still no sign of work.. lets hope it changes soon...!!

the project is on there website more then two years.. and the site office office was not completed, they left it incomplete.

http://express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110730/Sub_Images/1101298723-1.jpg
http://express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110730/Sub_Images/1101298723-2.gif

Hi guys. When you post something is urdu please can you add a brief english translation under the post. I would appreciate this a lot as not all people who visit this forum can read urdu.

Thanks...

http://express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110730/Sub_Images/1101298723-1.jpg
http://express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110730/Sub_Images/1101298723-2.gif

Not exact translation, but almost summary below:
"Five food streets being added to lahore and its subarbs i.e, Lahore fort road, Allama Iqbal town, Gulhan ravi moon market, Jallo & Shahdarra. Administrations of these streets will be done by the locals in these areas. Music facilities will also be added to the ambiance. Local authorities like WASA, CDGL and others will take care of renovations of the areas. Rs. 10 Million have been allocated already on the startup"

In general, i consider this a good move, in addition to entertainment for public, it is also creating jobs in these areas as the development begins. Just one comment however; there must be a very strict vigilance of the maintenance & hygiene of these areas.

^^ Thank you :)

LDA budget: Underpass, bridge on Ferozepur Road planned

LDA’s income has been estimated at Rs12.602 billion and expenditure at Rs11.633 billion.

LAHORE:

The governing body of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has approved a budget of Rs22.376 billion for fiscal 2011-12, including development spending of Rs14.77 billion.

The total income of the LDA, the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) and the Traffic Engineering and Transport Authority (TEPA) will be an estimated Rs20.101 billion in 2011-12. The budget was approved at a meeting chaired by District Coordination Officer Ahad Khan Cheema. LDA Director General Abdul Jabbar Shaheen and WASA Managing Director Dr Javed Iqbal also attended.

The LDA’s income has been estimated at Rs12.602 billion and expenditure at Rs11.633 billion, including Rs9.38 billion for development work.

The major allocations include Rs666 million for infrastructure in the LDA Avenue-1 residential area for government employees; Rs 500 million for the development of the Trade and Finance Centre area in Johar Town; Rs100 million to build cricket pavilions at various sites, including Rs50 million for a cricket ground in the Sabzazar Housing Scheme.

A total of Rs500 million has been reserved for priority works, including Rs164 million for pedestrian bridges at six places.

There is also Rs1.21 billion for the Lahore Roads Rehabilitation Programme, including Rs110 million for improvements to Faisal Town Main Road and Rs113 million for the widening and improvement of Model Town Link Road. The budget includes Rs1.2 billion for the construction of three parking plazas, and Rs2 billion for an underpass connecting Gulberg’s Main Boulevard and Garden Town at Kalma Chowk and an overhead bridge at Ferozepur Road over the Canal.

Wasa’s budget has total receipts of Rs4.21 billion and spending of Rs7.52 billion, including Rs2.30 billion for development. The agency will spend Rs141.28 million on installing 20 new tube wells; Rs199 million on removing encroachments to restore the original 40-feet cross section of Sattukatla drain from Feroezepur Road to Peco Road; and Rs125 million on improving the water supply, sewerage and drainage of the city.

Among the ongoing schemes, Rs100 million will be spent on sewerage and drainage works; Rs251 million on a trunk sewer from Shadipura to Salamatpura; Rs245 million to replace water supply lines; and Rs500 million for a waste water treatment plant at Salamatpura.

Tepa will have a total of Rs3.28 billion at its disposal. Its expenditure has been estimated at Rs3.21 billion including development works costing Rs3.09 billion.

The major allocations include Rs188 million to build a road from Khayaban-i-Jinnah to Valencia Town; Rs147 million for the remodelling of Canal Bank Road; and Rs2 million for the construction of an alternate route from Defence Road to the Butcher Khana distributary.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2nd, 2011.

include Rs188 million to build a road from Khayaban-i-Jinnah to Valencia Town; Rs147 million for the remodelling of Canal Bank Road;

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2nd, 2011.

isn't there a road already going to Valencia town from Khayaban -i Jin.? I hope remodeling of Canal Rd means adding another lane

No there is no road at the moment that connects Khayaban-e-Jinnah with Valencia!

No there is no road at the moment that connects Khayaban-e-Jinnah with Valencia!

Here you go, new satellite imagery, this is the new Khayaban-e-Jinnah to Valencia road link that is mentioned (http://www.google.com/mapmaker?ll=31.422639,74.248695&spn=0.010291,0.019097&t=h&z=16&lyt=large_map&htll=31.42135,74.238698) in the new LDA Budget.(Rs. 118 Million)

Will map out when the road is completed.

And here is the link (http://www.google.com/mapmaker?ll=31.367196,74.304528&spn=0.020593,0.038195&t=k&z=15&lyt=large_map&htll=31.368075,74.263287&hyaw=101.49894630132368) to the new road built on either side of Buchar Khana Distributary to provide new access from Lahore - Kasur Road
(aka Ferozepur Road) to housing societies like Fazaia etc to the south of Defence road. This is the road being referred to in the new LDA budget too.

Just for reference so we all know where what development is taking place!

^^ true, road work was started sometime ago but it wasn't completed. I guess the money this year is to complete it.

Can anyone please share the location of the Ashiana Scheme on a map?

They say it is at Atari Saroba, but the Saroba Atari on google maps recently got new satellite imagery from May 2011 and i can see no construction what so ever in or around the Atari Saroba region. (http://www.google.com/mapmaker?hl=en&gw=10&ll=31.449497,74.373901&spn=0.039247,0.076389&t=h&z=14&lyt=large_map&htll=31.449497,74.373901&hyaw=101.49894630132368)

Strange, is the Stari Saroba location on the maps wrong then?!

P.S. Never mind, the location on maps was wrong. I can see Aashiana now. (http://www.google.com/mapmaker?hl=en&gw=10&ll=31.426631,74.385016&spn=0.004907,0.009549&t=h&z=17&lyt=large_map&htll=31.45292,74.373525&hyaw=101.49894630132368)

Here you go, new satellite imagery, this is the new Khayaban-e-Jinnah to Valencia road link that is mentioned (http://www.google.com/mapmaker?ll=31.422639,74.248695&spn=0.010291,0.019097&t=h&z=16&lyt=large_map&htll=31.42135,74.238698) in the new LDA Budget.(Rs. 118 Million)

Will map out when the road is completed.

And here is the link (http://www.google.com/mapmaker?ll=31.367196,74.304528&spn=0.020593,0.038195&t=k&z=15&lyt=large_map&htll=31.368075,74.263287&hyaw=101.49894630132368) to the new road built on either side of Buchar Khana Distributary to provide new access from Lahore - Kasur Road
(aka Ferozepur Road) to housing societies like Fazaia etc to the south of Defence road. This is the road being referred to in the new LDA budget too.

Just for reference so we all know where what development is taking place!

Yes thats why I mentioned "at the moment there is no road", this road is not yet 100 % complete and also that bridge on the drain is not open. I hope it gets completed this year, it will be a big relief for residents of valencia and there might be a sudden rise in real estate market of valencia!

Valencia, is a good society and the real estate price is already high in valencia..

` LRMT design being prepared`

The Punjab government will soon finalise all arrangements in connection with initiating design and civil work about the 27-km (Shahdara to Gajjumata) Lahore Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) project in collaboration with China.

Sources told Dawn on Saturday that a Punjab government`s delegation headed by PML-N MPA Mehr Muhammad Ishtiaq was currently in China to discuss various technical issues relating to implementation of the project.

They said the delegation would submit a report to the Punjab government about the talks held with the experts of a Chinese company that was engaged to execute this mega project worth over $1.7 billion. They said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was expected to formally announce execution of the scheme on Aug 14, the day he would inaugurate the Kalma Chowk flyover project.

“We have also sent a draft about various technical issues of the LRMT project to Chinese experts. The delegation has discussed the draft with the experts in detail and is now in South Korea on various other official assignments,” Khwaja Ahmad Hassan, adviser to chief minister and LTC chairman, told this reporter.

He said the Chinese experts were currently busy preparing initial design of the project in collaboration with the departments concerned in the provincial capital. “As soon as they complete this assignment, the Punjab government plans to launch civil work in this regard,” he added.

cool... they have bee busy on this... i like it!! lets hope this gets on ground by oct. after getting formal go on 14th aug..!!

Lahore Rail Mass Transit:

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XMhfpLI5r28

fangkes85ic

LDA Finance & Trade Centre Project:

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LCCI Lahore Vision 2015 Project:

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Walled City gates: Restoration faces major challenges

http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/225845-BhatigatePHOTOSEXPRESSABIDNAWAZ-1312658398-204-640x480.jpg
http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/225845-SheranwalagatePHOTOSEXPRESSABIDNAWAZ-1312658362-677-640x480.jpg
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The government will need to remove a host of encroachers and line drains in order to restore and conserve four historic Walled City gates, besides finding funds for the work, officials told The Express Tribune.

Archaeology Department officials began restoring Sheranwala Gate in June and expect to be finished in November, said Anjum Saleem Qureshi, the department official in charge of the project. He said the plaster in the arch surrounding the brown metal gate was rapidly eroding and had to be restored first.

He said that the process had been slowed by the slow release of funds. He said that Rs800,000 of the Rs1.6 million budget for the restoration work had been used up and the rest was to be released soon. The total cost of restoring the four gates would be about Rs8.3 million, he said. “The project has not been included in the Annual Development Plan so there have been delays in the release of funds,” he said.

Qureshi said a proposal for the restoration of Bhati, Kashmiri and Lohari Gates was under consideration by the deputy secretary (Infrastructure) at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. These gates will be harder to restore, he said, because it will mean removing illegal structures and lining drains.

A major problem at Lohari Gate is the presence of open drains nearby, as close as 10 feet away. “It creates fissures in the foundations of side structures such as rooms and additional arches,” Qureshi said. The open drains would be lined with cement to prevent seepage.

He said several butchers, grocers and locksmiths had illegally set up shops by the gates and they dumped animal waste and garbage near the structures. These encroachments would need to be removed and this would take some time, he said.

Qureshi said that plaster made from the same material as the original plaster used in the structure would be used for restoration work. The mortar between their red stone bricks and fading frescoes would be restored. The gates, which are currently made of cheap metal or light wood, would be replaced with structures similar to those in the Mughal era.

He said that fixing Bhati and Kashmiri Gates would take four months each, while restoring Lohari would take up to eight months. That does not include fresco work, which would take longer, he said. A Water and Sanitation Agency official assigned the task of surveying the area and estimating the cost of lining the drains with concrete told The Express Tribune that he did not believe that seeping sewage was such a big problem. “The encroachers, the residents and the legacy of past, defective conservation attempts are much bigger problems,” he said.

Officers of the Walled City Restoration Project are nominally responsible for the restoration of the four Walled City gates, but the job has been handed over to the Archaeology Department because it has greater technical expertise in the area, sources involved in the project said. The job of restoring Delhi Gate, meanwhile, remains with the Walled City Restoration Project.

Only five of the 12 original gates of the Walled City still remain. Four of them were heavily altered by the British. Roshnai Gate, joining the Lahore Fort and Badshahi Masjid, remains the only one in its original state.

Bhati Gate, located at the southwest corner of the Walled City, was rebuilt by the British with a Western-style arch with rooms on each side replacing the original wooden gate with metal spikes, which is kept at the museum in the Lahore Fort. The rooms are now used by officers of Bhati Gate police station. It was named after the Bhatis, a Rajput family that lived in the city, by Mughal architect Amir Ayaz. Lohari Gate was rebuilt by Lord Montgomery in 1864 for the third time. Its name is derived from the nearby blacksmith market. It is also believed that it was called Lahori Gate during the Delhi Sultanate.

Historians believe that Kashmiri Gate, which is in the northeast section of the Walled City, was named so because it faces Kashmir, or after the thousands of Kashmiri carpet weavers in the city.

Khizri Gate was renamed Sheranwala after Sikh emperor Ranjit Singh ordered two caged lions placed by its sides in the seventeen century. The gate faces the River Ravi and was originally named after Khizer (Elias), who, is linked in legend to water and immortality.

CM reviews forensics lab project

http://cache.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/08/000105-400x238.jpg

Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif presided over a meeting on Tuesday to review the pace of work on the project of setting up a forensics lab in the provincial capital.

The CM said the most modern forensics lab of the region was being set up in Lahore. It would prove to be a milestone in curbing crime in the country, especially in Punjab, by aiding investigation of crimes on scientific grounds.

He said the Forensic Science Agency was an important and unique project for which foreign trained experts would be hired to operate the modern equipment installed in the lab.

Issuing instructions to select the best scientists and staff for the forensics lab, the CM directed the Forensic Science Agency director general to choose people regardless of any influence and pressure.

He also issued instructions to set up a committee headed by the chief secretary to review the pace of the project on weekly basis and ensure its timely completion.

The committee would deal with all issues regarding the project and would be responsible for removing any hurdles in this regard.

Earlier, Forensic Science Agency Director General Dr Tahir Ashraf said in his briefing the project was in its final stages of completion. He highlighted the uniqueness of the project and said the lab would be comparable with the best laboratories of its kind in the world.

He said 30 master trainers had received training from abroad to operate the lab while the equipment being installed was also imported.

` LRMT design being prepared`


Is that for the 100th or the 101st time?

Precisely umpteenth time.

this time it for real... :D

http://express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110812/Sub_Images/1101308620-1.jpg
http://express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110812/Sub_Images/1101308620-2.gif

And here in English.


Urban development: So what do we do about Canal traffic? (http://tribune.com.pk/story/229578/urban-development-so-what-do-we-do-about-canal-traffic/)

LAHORE:

The Supreme Court has asked the Lahore Bachao Tehreek to suggest green alternatives to a road-widening project to ease traffic problems on Canal Bank Road, while indicating that it sees the project as important for city residents.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was conducting proceedings in a suo motu case and on various petitions challenging a government plan to widen a 3.5-km stretch of the road from Thokar Niaz Beg to Harbanspura.

The court directed Dr Pervez Hassan, who is mediating between the Punjab government and the Tehreek on the matter, to ensure he attends the next hearing on August 15 to answer objections raised by LBT members to a report on the project, produced by a seven-member committee that Dr Hassan set up.

Imrana Tiwana, convener of the LBT and secretary of the Lahore Conservation Society, said the seven-member committee should have been made up of experts on urban planning, engineering and the environment, but instead consisted mostly of government supporters. These included former minister Sartaj Aziz, PML-Nawaz MNA Ayaz Sadiq, the Lahore commissioner and Abid Sulehri. “How can they give recommendations against the government?” she said. She said that the canal and the trees on its banks should be declared an urban heritage park area.

Another LBT representative argued that widening the road would not solve the traffic problems on the road, merely delay them. “After six months the same level of traffic will return,” he said, adding that the congestion was due to the faulty design of the underpasses.

Faryal Ali Gohar said global warming was having a devastating effect on Pakistan’s environment and chopping down trees would only accelerate the problem. She said that development should benefit the many and not just the few who drove cars.

Tiwana also objected that the government had allocated funds for the project when it had been challenged in court. She said the money allocated was enough to buy 1,260 buses. It could also be better used to build footpaths and slow lanes. She said that Rs10 billion had been spent on 11 underpasses in Lahore and the money had been wasted.

Justice Saqib Nisar remarked that the congestion on Canal Bank Road affected students and people who worked in offices, not just rich people. He also noted that Canal Bank Road had made possible the construction of several residential schemes, and not just high-incomes ones, but ones for the poor too.

The bench asked the counsel for the Punjab government how many trees would be chopped down for the widening of the road. He replied that they would cut 60 trees and plant alternative trees elsewhere.

The chief justice observed that the judges were all concerned about the environment and asked the Tehreek to come up with “some amicable solutions” at the next hearing. Several NGO representatives and National College of Arts students attended the proceedings.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12th, 2011.

‘Trees along Canal are national heritage’ (http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/08/%E2%80%98trees-along-canal-are-national-heritage%E2%80%99/)

LAHORE - Environmental activists and members of the Lahore Bachao Tehreek fighting their case against the Lahore Canal Widening Project pleaded to a full bench of the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday that trees were a heritage for future generations and felling at the canal would cause irreparable loss to the city’s environment.
The SC bench was hearing the case suo moto on petitions moved against the felling of trees on the Lahore Canal banks to widen around three and a half kilometres of the road at various points. After hearing arguments of activists of the Lahore Bachao Tehreek and other environmental organisations, the full bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary adjourned the matter until August 15.
The SC will decide on the case after hearing arguments of senior lawyer and environmentalist Dr Pervez Hassan who had prepared a report on the project after consulting all stakeholders including the Punjab government. The report that had already been presented to the court by Hassan said the old and historic trees not only added to the beauty of the city but also kept the city’s environment clean and healthy.
It said the trees were a national heritage and needed to be preserved and maintained. National College of Arts students, petitioners, Lahore Conservation Society and Shajar Dost members and others including Faryal Gohar, Prof Dr Iftikhar Anwar and Ali Habib praised Hassan’s idea of declaring the trees national heritage and opposed the widening.
However other activists including lawyers and civilians, pleading their case themselves in court, opposed part of Hassan’s report saying the growing needs of the city might give an exception to the felling of trees. Supporting the Lahore Canal Widening Project, a member on the bench Justice Mian Saqib Nisar referred to the traffic load on the canal road that often resulted in hours-long traffic jams causing inconvenience to the public.
As Hassan was not present in court on Thursday to explain certain unclear points mentioned in his report, the court adjourned further hearing of the case until Monday.

To add some perspective to the canal widening debate, here is one proposal from a very senior foreign trained Architect who is the dean of Architecture at Beaconhouse National University BNU. Copy pasting a note of his from facebook note.

Some very good proposals here, after all , we need a beautiful city with recreation spots for people too! Let know what others think.


CANAL ROAD WIDENING AND BNU SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE'S POSITION
April 20, 2011 (https://www.facebook.com/notes/gulzar-haider/canal-road-widening-and-bnu-school-of-architectures-position-april-20-2011/203419553023917)


1. Canal had the potential of evolving as a place - space of botanical, recreational and communal joy as well as an instrument of civic identity for Lahore. Instead, slowly and progressively, our obsessions with auto-mobile and the desire to "get there faster", has reduced it to a shrinking waterway of questionable utility squeezed between ever expanding motorways.

2. The mutually compounding effects of locational ( universities, colleges, hospitals and stately residences) and transportaional planning decisions, driven by contingent imperitives, political expedience, autocratic impulses, and a characteristic lack of visionary, long-term master planning brought us to the complex situation(s) that we find ourselves in. The government is convinced that, given all that it has inherited from its predecessors’, it is doing its best to serve the public through unblocking the jams by under, over and even fly-over passes, reducing the the accidents, minimizing the ambulance response times, reducing the exhaust gases by allowing the traffic to move at optimum speeds…..

3. One cannot help but start feeling sympathetic to the good intentions of the government and consider the loss of mere 1456 trees, many of which are the “unwanted Euclyptii”, as a minor co-lateral price to pay for the phenomenal facilitation promised to the motorists cruising East-West across the city. Their arguments start to sound even stronger when one hears about the thousands of new trees, bushes and flower beds that are replacing a “few cut trees” which were in the way and responsible for deadly car-tree accidents and polluting cars stuck in traffic jams.

4. Steadily and progressively the entire policy, planning and implementation discourse has converged around the automobile and its smooth and optimal flow. The domain of solution strategies has become myopically collapsed around the widening of the roads. There is no shortage of piecemeal, numerically augmented arguments citing the destinations like hospitals, colleges, universities, and myriads of entries, exits and destinations. The telltale evidence of degrading natural environment, artificially beautified ecology, and the forced compression of a life enhancing landscaped waterway gets buried under the heaps of transportation and economic imperatives.

5. The loud and almost exclusive mantra of “traffic flow” takes command of the very thought process of problem-formulation. No wonder the solutions appear only as traffic enhancing infrastructures. When a “hammer” possesses your imagination the life starts to look like a “nailing problem”.

6. There is need for a shift in the way reality and quality of Canal is perceived within the overall, comprehensive future of Lahore and its surroundings. It is in this spirit that we offer some heuristics:

6.1 Slowly, progressively and steadily take steps to reduce the number of automobiles for whom it is necessary to use the Canal Roads. One step is to reduce the number of entry and exit points on the Canal Roads. The aim is to work towards reverting Canal Roads to local parkway type roads along the City’s precious water-gardens strip rather than the central East-West motorway.

6.2 Identify those zones where the road can be moved away from the Canal and merged with the side roads in order to free the landscape aprons of the Canal that can be developed like water edge parks.

6.3 Develop alternate secondary accesses to the existing institutional buildings that can reduce the need for the use of Canal Roads.

6.4 Discourage new institutional buildings along the Canal unless they have access independent of the primary or even secondary use of the Canal Roads. If at all allowed such buildings’ Canal front is to be landscaped water edge parks with pedestrian cross-overs from buildings to the Canal.

6.5 Discourage large private gated residential properties that are close to the Canal but for various reasons are walled off from the Canal but use the Canal Road.

6.6 Encourage well-designed middle to higher density housing for which the Canal aprons are the communal parks.

Students of Architecture, Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, guided and assisted by Prof. Gulzar Haider, Dean, School of Architecture.

well if you want to convince people put your money where your mouth is and start a campaign against big villas owners on the Canal Rd. they are the one destroying the environment

^^ i'm sure Canal Rd is going ahead despite LBT claims. Canal needs expansion at multiple places for certain reasons admit it or not. Judges cannot hold it any longer since its a serious issue for south Lahore.

^^ Right.

Also when CJ, LHC asked LBT to tell the solution, they didn't had anyone. Only 3.5 kms strech of trees will be affected & this can be re-planted anywhere else. I think LHC will dismiss LBT's plea...

http://www.express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110812/Sub_Images/1101308653-1.jpg

http://www.express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110812/Sub_Images/1101308653-2.gif

Garden Town Boulevard is also 90% complete. They have removed the signal from the road BUT two U-turn facilities are given...

^^ i'm sure Canal Rd is going ahead despite LBT claims. Canal needs expansion at multiple places for certain reasons admit it or not. Judges cannot hold it any longer since its a serious issue for south Lahore.

THese Lahore bachao tehreek guys badly need some serious dose. I mean WTF is wrong with these As*****, few hundred buses can be bought with this amount and where the f**k is that infrastructure on which these fuking buses can run smoothly ???? Even a good transport system like BRT needs atleast 3 lane roads to be successful 100%!

inshallah on monday...definately LBT... ill lose their bloody case.... n the construction gonna be start very soon....

so how long is the canal road from TNB to harbanspura??

i think they should extend the canal road from TNB to Wahga..... that will cover the needs for next 50 years i guess...

its near abt 22 km.....sum of the section already been upgrated... like (shalimar interchange to harbanspura interchange) and (TNB section to Motorway interchange)....:)

Underpass impact: Groundwater quality primary environmental concern
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Underpass impact: Groundwater quality primary environmental concern - By Sonia Malik
" At least 95 per cent of survey respondents including residents and businesses supported the project," Nespak.


LAHORE:

The primary concern for departments concerned is to ensure that the groundwater in the area is not affected by construction of underpasses at Kalma Chowk and Model Town Mor, Nespak Engr Adeel Pervez said on Friday.

He was presenting the environment impact assessment (EIA) of the underpasses to a gathering of government officials, residents and students at a public hearing organised by the Environment Protection Department. He said once the underpasses open for traffic, air pollution in the region is expected to go down and fuel consumption of vehicles to improve due to a less braking.


Of the 147 trees to be removed from Ferozepur Road, Gulberg’s Main Boulevard and Garden Town during construction work, 50 would be chopped down. “The EPD will plant five saplings for every tree cut for the construction of the underpasses,” he said. He said 20 of the 50 trees to be cut were on Gulberg’s Main Bouleward and 30 on Ferozepur Road and the road leading to Model Town. The remaining trees would be removed with their roots intact and replanted elsewhere.


Pevaiz claimed that at least 95 per cent of respondents in interviews with residents, businesses and students in the area had supported the construction of the two underpasses.

The Kalma Chowk underpass, between Gulberg’s Main Boulevard and Barkat Market in Garden Town, will be completed in three months. The construction of the underpass at Model Town Mor will begin afterwards.


To a question about particulate matter count in air samples, Nespak’s expert on environment Kashif Bashir said the latest available count (June 2011) was 440 micrograms per metre cube (µg/m3).

This, he said, was more than 319 micrograms per metre cube (µg/m3) before construction of Kalma Chowk Flyover started in March. Dust level permissible under the National Environment Quality Standards is 40 µg/m3.

Bashir said dust was likely to increase further with the start of construction work for the underpasses in the coming days.

Nespak Highway Division’s Arshad Malik said a plan would be evolved to protect from damage the water supply from canal to irrigate the green belts along the roads and Nawaz Sharif Park in Model Town.

He was responding to Model Town resident Pervez Akbar Lodhi’s question.

Rs708,000 will be spent to minimise the impact of the construction on environment under an environment management plan.

Pervez said contractors had been directed to place machinery causing noise away from schools, hospitals and mosques located on the construction site. Other measures meant to ensure that the construction was environment friendly included a ban on burning stuff on construction site and a thorough examination of the machinery for fitness. He said contractors would be directed to install water sprinklers to prevent dust clouds in the surroundings during construction.


Environmentalists conspicuous by their absence : None of the groups lobbying for green causes in the city that had been active against the proposal to construct a flyover and an underpass at the Kalma Chowk were represented at the hearing.

The environmentalists The Express Tribune spoke to about this either expressed ignorance about the hearing or said the previous ones had not been very purposeful. Lawyer Ahmed Rafay Alam, who represented Shajar Dost and Lahore Conservation Society in a plea against the flyover construction before the Lahore High Court, said attendance at the hearing would have been futile. “The only new objection I could have raised was about the cutting of trees,” he said. Architect Kamil Khan Mumtaz expressed ignorance about the hearing. He said no action was taken on objections raised during the public hearing for the flyover. “I would have still attended the hearing had I been informed about it,” he said. At the hearing before flyover construction, Ejaz Ahmad Nazim of Shajar Dost had objected to the cutting and replanting of some foreign species of plants. “The officials concerned don’t take these hearings seriously else they would have revised the flyover construction plan in light of the objections raised during the previous public hearing,” he said. At the least they could have held another public hearing before starting the construction. Two Punjab University students present at the hearing on Friday referred to the newspaper advertisements for the hearing and pointed out that these did not mention the venue. “Was it done to prevent a large audience of concerned citizens?” they asked. EPD spokesman Naseemur Rahman said Communications and Works Department was respobnsible for giving the ad in newspapers. Also, he said, the EPD officials were not bothered by the low attendance.


Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th, 2011.

^^ lol even we all knew that the hearing is going to happen and this Lahore Bajao idiots still finds a conspiracy in it ... even tom,dick & harry knows that Govt. ads are run by a different department and the originating department has no control where it shows up.

LoL u r rite ! it will be a bad day for Mr Rafay Alam(lawyer of that lahore bajao tehreek) tomorrow, since its now officially confirmed that CM will inaugurate the flyover tomorrow and lay the foundation for construction of Underpass and the name of which is Center point underpass according to City42 !

^^ Right.

Also when CJ, LHC asked LBT to tell the solution, they didn't had anyone. Only 3.5 kms strech of trees will be affected & this can be re-planted anywhere else. I think LHC will dismiss LBT's plea...

How many times do i have to explain that a mature tree cannot be replaced by saplings or immature trees? Does anyone know any environmental science and ecology here, does anyone understand the relationship? Does anyone even read here?

The judge is no competent authority to say that buying buses is not a good solution. And neither is LBT any competent authority or body to offer alternatives to the judge.

The responsibility lies squarely on the planning departments who have to work within certain limits and find solutions to these problems. That solution can not be a one pronged approach (just widen the road) but a mutli dimensional approach which attacks all the root causes of congestion at that point i.e. the canal and at hundreds of other points across the city.

What myopia everyone has here!

Just because you have flu doesn’t mean you cut off your nose.

Recently the entire city was sunk TWICE in one week due to monsoon rains and this happens every year. Is the LDA or NESPAK or WAPDA working any harder to solve that problem? Is traffic congestion a bigger menace than having your entire house submerged in the dirty water from the sewage drains and ganda naalas? Is having you entire basement submerged in 3 feet of water more convenient that getting stuck in a traffic jam for 10 minutes? Is getting electrocuted better?

No one is talking of widening the naalas or building a new sewage system for the city. We are a city next to a river yet we dont have any natural drainage thanks to the city planners, or rather, lack thereof.

Oh I know a solution, just demolish all the houses in Lahore so there are no streets or houses that get flooded in the monsoon. Mayer exterminate all people from Lahore so no one is there to get electrocuted when it rains.

That is the response I expect from this forum.

THese Lahore bachao tehreek guys badly need some serious dose. I mean WTF is wrong with these As*****, few hundred buses can be bought with this amount and where the f**k is that infrastructure on which these fuking buses can run smoothly ???? Even a good transport system like BRT needs atleast 3 lane roads to be successful 100%!

Have you traveled to any foreign cities to see how many lanes of roads are employed for a bus public transport network? Can I offer to take you to a place where they manager with a single or a dual lane?

Is three a magical number?

^^ lol even we all knew that the hearing is going to happen and this Lahore Bajao idiots still finds a conspiracy in it ... even tom,dick & harry knows that Govt. ads are run by a different department and the originating department has no control where it shows up.

It was two Punjab university students who raised the conspiracy point, not the lahore bachao walas.

Lets us discuss facts and not twist words.

Have you traveled to any foreign cities to see how many lanes of roads are employed for a bus public transport network? Can I offer to take you to a place where they manager with a single or a dual lane?

Is three a magical number?

O mere bhai please find any other forum to show your affection to trees. Everybody here loves trees its not only you dude. I have a very good knowledge for what I am talking about and yes I have seen many foreign cities and I know how a public transport network works. Thanx a lot for your offer.

If you are a member of Lahore bajao tehreek then you shuold create a facebook page of yours (I am sure there already will be a page) and try to convince people at that page.

Any update on the LRMTS project? Wasn't that supposed to be inaugurated on August 14th?

http://www.dailywaqt.com/150811/Images/p2-22.gif

Any update on the LRMTS project? Wasn't that supposed to be inaugurated on August 14th?

Yes it was BUT it wasn't done...

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6067/6045604361_30c0671cd8_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6074/6045607795_b06a241f48_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6198/6045605899_419a2d5286_b.jpg
Looks like GF + 10 floors

Its name is Shalimar park lane hospital or some thing like that.

great view....

Appears that the Lahore Bachao Tehreek (LBT) haters will have more reason to hate them! Since the committees suggestions have been accepted by the govt. of Punjab, it appears that the trees will be saved :-D But lets wait for the final verdict from the court. The Haters future generations might thank the LBT walas :-P

Dr Pervez’ proposals about Canal Road prevail (http://nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Regional/Lahore/16-Aug-2011/Dr-Pervez-proposals-about-Canal-Road-prevail)

LAHORE - The representative of the Punjab government before the Supreme Court here Monday conceded to all the recommendations made in the Dr Pervez Hassan report on preserving trees on either side of the Canal Road after the trees had come under threat of being cut down for the sake of widening this main road of the City in 2009.

The Bench of Justice Tasadduq Hussain Jilani and Justice Mian Saqib Nisar after hearing the parties also reserved the judgment. It may be noted that the SC while proceeding suo moto had restrained the provincial government from going ahead with the its project of widening canal road at different points and stretches when media reported that a number of historic and old trees which were catering to the environmental and ecological well being of the City besides adding to its beauty were being felled. Later on, Lahore Bachao Tehrik, Lahore Conservation Society and Shujjar also joined the proceedings through petition. The SC Bench then headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had appointed a committee headed by Dr Hassan to prepare a report on how the trees could be preserved and protected in the road widening project.

The stretch at dispute is now only 3.5km long from Doctors Hospitals to Tokhar Niaz Baig. The total length of the road for widening was 14.3 km of which 6.9 km has been completed. The stretch at dispute is dotted with as many as 642 old trees of which 60 per cent are eucalyptus about the felling of which the report has given a go ahead. Last day, Dr Hassan also addressed the court to remove reservations and objections raised by the petitioner led by Architect Imrana Tiwana, Prof Kamal Khan Mumtaz, Ali Hassan Hameed of World Wildlife Fund , Iram Aftab, Dr Naumana Amjad and a number of students of National College of Arts.

During the course of hearing, Justice Saqib Nisar observed that the society could not be put to halt and there must be development in the province. But the need is there must be a balance between development and the environment protection for which a mechanism needs to be evolved. The Judge at the same time also pinpointed traffic congestion on the Canal Bank Road and problems and difficulties faced by the commuters and the public alike thereof. Senior Advocate Salman Aslam Butt for the Punjab government accepted all recommendations made in Dr Hassan report however made a little request to let the government get enough room for setting up bus stops on the road. The court reserved the request for consideration.

Prof Mumtaz in his arguments tried to convince the Bench that the solution of traffic load did not lie in widening of the road but addressing other issues like traffic management, use of service road, proper junctions on the road etc. He named some underpasses and said their construction was faulty which had deprived the use of service road adjacent to them. He also said that urban transport and bus service for school could be a good answer to the traffic jam and other related problems. He said if the core problems are addressed more space on the road could be reclaimed than what is required.

Environmentalist Iram Aftab highlighted the environmental hazards which would crop in case trees in questions are cut down. She opposed the cutting of even eucalyptus on the ground that they sucked soil moister to lower water level as such banned for cultivation and said for preserving water level recharges rules are set in the City wherein artificial areas are created to recharge the original area to raise their water level. She said 350 tubewells installed in the City may be a cause of lowering water level and not the said trees. She said the City was already one of leading polluted cities and less number of trees would aggravate the problem, which also did not have any alternative.

Ali Hassan Hameed who had conducted a study of ecological effect from cutting down the trees said that felling of trees would also extinct natural habitat like frogs and earthworms etc which play a big role to protect our environment. Dr Nauama spotlighted the psychological impact of environmental degradation.

----

for more:

Verdict in Canal Bank Road case reserved (http://www.dawn.com/2011/08/16/verdict-in-canal-bank-road-case-reserved.html)

Verdict on plea against canal tree cutting reserved (http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=62988&Cat=5&dt=8/16/2011)

SC reserves decision on plea against cutting of trees on Canal Road (http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\08\16\story_16-8-2011_pg13_6)

Environmental concerns: SC reserves judgment in canal road widening case (http://tribune.com.pk/story/232303/environmental-concerns-sc-reserves-judgment-in-canal-road-widening-case/)

so whn the final verdict gonna be announced....?

I'll pay 1 million to anyone who kills Lahore Bachao Tehreek's top 5.

Verdict in Canal Bank Road case reserved

A two-member bench of the Supreme Court on Monday reserved judgment in a suo motu case and several petitions against the Lahore Canal Bank Road Widening Project which required felling of trees.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had in 2009 taken suo motu notice of the project and restrained the Punjab government from cutting trees on either side of the canal bank. Later Lahore Bachao Tehrik, Lahore Conservative Society and civil society organisations also became party in the case by filing separate petitions.

On Monday, the Punjab government through its counsel informed the court that it agreed to recommendations made in the report of Dr. Pervez Hasan, a mediator between the government and the stakeholders. Advocate Salman Butt said the designated area of canal bank for cutting trees was 2.5 km from Doctors’ Hospital to Thokar Niaz Beg. He said the area contained 460 trees, including 10 of eucalyptus, which had been banned by the government because they suck maximum water from earth. He said the government would plant 100 trees in place of each tree removed for widening of the road.

The counsel also contended that traffic problems and pollution in the area would reduce after widening of the road. He said new road would also help people get an easy access to hospitals.

Besides Dr Hassan, LBT convener Imrana Tiwana, also an architect, Prof. Kamal Mumtaz, Ali Hassan of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and a number of civil society members also appeared before the court.

The petitioners insisted that widening of the road would not be a right solution to traffic mess. They also named some underpasses and said their construction was faulty which had deprived the use of service roads adjacent to them. They said urban transport and bus service for schools and colleges could address the problem of traffic chaos.

During the course of the hearing Justice Mian Saqib Nisar remarked that development could not be stopped in the name of environmental protection but there must be a balance between them. He also expressed concern over traffic mess on the Canal Bank Road and miseries of commuters.

However, after hearing the both sides the bench reserved judgment.

^^

The decision of this case will be announced in a day or two. I just got the feeling that LBT's plea will be dismissed. Also, when they are planting 100 trees in place of each tree removed for widening of the road, whats the problem then??

http://www.dailywaqt.com/160811/Images/p3-10.gif

^^

The decision of this case will be announced in a day or two. I just got the feeling that LBT's plea will be dismissed. Also, when they are planting 100 trees in place of each tree removed for widening of the road, whats the problem then??

The problem is that a hundred trees is just verbosity, a bharak...no one has committed to that number. If 10 trees will be planted, where will they be planted, on the canal? Such claims are always empty claims. How many old mature trees do you see at the under passes built on canal road. Every time an underpass was built hundreds of mature trees were chopped off. where are the replacement trees?

Secondly, when you kill one mature tree, you lose a lot of carbon sequestering capacity. Trees absorb CO2 and other pollutants. When you remove those mature trees you lose the environment cleaners that were automatically working for your benefit. Planting a 100 tree saplings (the success rate of new tree saplings in Pakistan i hear is like 40%, i.e. only 40% of new saplings survive; observed in Islamabad) does not help because the saplings are not mature and do not have the capacity to clean the environment. Besides, if a tree was palnted in your back yard say, and some one says i will cut it and replant it 10km's away, the benefit you were getting from the tree is lost. You lose the clean environment inside and around your house.

Similarly, cutting the trees on the canal will be a loss of the serene and clean environment on the canal and its surroundings.

When we talk of eco-systems, the trees are much more important. Plants and birds and insects live on those trees. When you cut a tree, you basically cut the homes of hundreds of birds and insects which are working for your environment.

So you will no longer see maynahs, or sparrows, or parrots and many other species since those birds will die since they dont have a shelter and a habitat any more.

In the future, you and other will also bemoan the fact kay..."yaar..aik zamanay main nehar bari thandi or sar sabz hoti thi...". This is what our parents tell us, and so will you tell your next generations. Do we want to lose that aspect of Lahore city life?

If you are in the mood of some more reading read this excellent report by WWF Pakistan on the rich and diverse ecosystem of the Lahore Canal road made possible by the thousands of trees there and the hundreds of species of other life that depend on these trees.

THE STUDY OF ECOLOGY AND ECOLOGICAL LINKAGES OF THE LAHORE CANAL BANK
(http://www.wwfpak.org/pdf/lahore_%20canal_report_%2012309.pdf)

Please do yourself a favour, read the report and then decide if you want all those trees cut.

http://www.dailywaqt.com/160811/Images/p3-10.gif

Google Imagery for the location:

http://i.imgur.com/6gchX.jpg

LBT stance on canal widening issue to some extent is reasonable. But on other development projects like kalma chowk bridge their role is negative. They should force LDA to keep open spaces in the new shemes of Lahore. The ratio of open spaces(for parks & grounds only) in all LDA shemes should be increased from 7% to at least 15%. If there are no open spaces then no space for tree plantation. LBT should spend all its energies here intead of making unjustified hurdles in development projetcs of the city. They should also support cm program of ravi national park in north of lahore, required for eco balance of the city.

LBT stance on canal widening issue to some extent is reasonable. But on other development projects like kalma chowk bridge their role is negative. They should force LDA to keep open spaces in the new shemes of Lahore. The ratio of open spaces(for parks & grounds only) in all LDA shemes should be increased from 7% to at least 15%. If there are no open spaces then no space for tree plantation. LBT should spend all its energies here intead of making unjustified hurdles in development projetcs of the city. They should also support cm program of ravi national park in north of lahore, required for eco balance of the city.

Glad some one brought up the Ravi National Park issue. Can some one share more info on that? I had only seen some news reports about it and the matter died under the radar.

As for LBT stance on the Flyover, i think the issue they had was that the govt. did not conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment which they were required to do by law, EPA Act 1997. The other issue was about them asking for an integrated urban transport system for the city to help manage some congestion, and they asked that money rather be spent on a longer term solution rather than stop gap measures. Its always a fine balance though, development and conservation.

LBT stance on canal widening issue to some extent is reasonable. But on other development projects like kalma chowk bridge their role is negative. They should force LDA to keep open spaces in the new shemes of Lahore. The ratio of open spaces(for parks & grounds only) in all LDA shemes should be increased from 7% to at least 15%. If there are no open spaces then no space for tree plantation. LBT should spend all its energies here intead of making unjustified hurdles in development projetcs of the city. They should also support cm program of ravi national park in north of lahore, required for eco balance of the city.

These people are self-proclaimed environmental activists who are living in a dream world and are clueless about urban development needs and the ground realities.

LBT only focuses on posh areas of Lahore. They are mum on the Ravi National Park project because it's not situated in a posh area. They are also mum on the felling of trees in poorer areas of Lahore. They comprise people (mostly begumats and gentlemen types) who have too much spare time on their hands.

Best way to describe them is: Urban Development Trolls.

The land & revenue department closed all types of registries/transfers/intiqaal of land in the area coming under the proposed Ravi national park last year. They even banned all type of constructions, but then happened what was expected, a massive protest by the villagers and then some of our Ass*** politicians got a good opportunity for political point scoring. Eventually government had to cancel the project :no:

http://www.dailywaqt.com/160811/Images/p3-10.gif

brief translation please

I guess this is Novotel near to Pace Circle on Airport Road...!!

Its a 5 year project and construction work is progressing well..!!

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/8774/img00724201108181629.jpg

http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/6135/img00723201108181628.jpg

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/2595/img00725201108181631.jpg

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/6699/img00721201108181627.jpg

These guys have dug quite deep...

Site for some sort of MCB IT Center also on Airport Road...!!

http://img806.imageshack.us/img806/3537/img00720201108181627.jpg

Since these sites are adjacent to runway and the distance might only be few hundred meters (600 meter approx), so these structures will not be very tall. 9-10 floors only like Pace circle.

@ JS:

Digging was done long before, good to know that they have started work again....

http://www.dailywaqt.com/190811/Images/p3-21.gif

Underpass at Model Town Mor

The Punjab government has decided to build an underpass at Model Town Mor instead of Kalma Chowk, officials told Dawn on Thursday.

It has also been decided to construct another flyover at Muslim Town Mor (Ferozepur Road), keeping in view the frequent traffic jams occurring there.

“The experts have told Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in a meeting that the city is in a dire need of another flyover having two bridges at Muslim Town Mor because of frequent traffic congestions occurring there. The experts also told the CM that the construction of an underpass at Model Town Mor would be more beneficial than at Kalma Chowk, drawing a comparison between traffic load at the two sites,” communication and works department project director Sabir Khan Saduzai said.

“That is why the government has dropped the idea to construct an underpass at Kalma Chowk and instead decided to construct it at Model Town Mor,” he added.

He said the Muslim Town flyover project would be costlier, as it would have more length than Kalma Chowk flyover.

Mr Saduzai said a consultancy firm had been asked to immediately prepare the design for both projects — Muslim Town flyover and Model Town underpass.

“As soon as the department receives complete designs of the projects it will start working on their execution,” he added.

underpass at MT mor is going to be on just on one side I believe... just like one at the canal rd. by doctors hospital

http://express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110820/Sub_Images/1101314478-1.gif

http://www.dailywaqt.com/190811/Images/p3-21.gif

In this article they said they r going to build highrises according to the CAA height restriction..... OMG.......:nuts:

^^ if this 3 lane gets co pleyed , it'll get pressure off Canal Campus Section. But i doubtit would be easy as space is very less beyond Barkat Market

nice going... hope they execute these projects soon enough...!!

do we have any more info on the LRMTS... the formal work was to start in Oct. this year..!! any further details on that??

Can anyone describe the location of Novotel Hotel ?

i wonder if there is any emphasis on improving the fire brigade facilities overall in Pak, i mean we do build some highrises in cities but how equipped these places are to fire incidents

Can anyone describe the location of Novotel Hotel ?

Right side of Pace circle and opposite to Askari 10's main gate.

http://express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110820/Sub_Images/1101314478-1.gif

Getting confusing now...So is the underpass at Model Town intersection on Ferozepur road or is it at Chungi Amar Sidhu on Ferozepur Road?

The two spots are different, lest some one is confusing them...or are we now talking of TWO different new underpasses on the ferozepur road?

As for the Road widening from Main Boulevard Gulberg to Jinnah hospital, The Garden Town main boulevard is 4 lanes each, as it was redcently reconstructed.

The next section of the road called Usmani Road (refer gogole maps pls) leads us to Jinnah hospital on Maulana Shaukat Ali Road and Usmani road is 2 lanes each side. It is constrained by Punjab university on one side and a major covered sewerage drain on the other side. So it beats me how they will widen that road?

And to raise all hue and cry again, has any one seen the gorgeous Sumbul trees along the wall of PU Campus on Usmani road...If they choose to go after extra land from PU then they might have to chop down those trees!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! ;)

Anarkali, Ichhra declared most polluted areas of city (http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\08\22\story_22-8-2011_pg13_4)

LAHORE: Anarkali and Ichhra are the most polluted areas of the provincial capital, revealed a report. According to Sustainable Development Centre, the report was prepared to provide a clear picture of the current situation of pollution in main localities of Lahore including Anarkali, Urdu Bazaar, Kalma Chowk, Ichhra and Data Darbar Chowk to measure sound pollution and the amount of oxides of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur.

Results indicate a wide variation in the amount of gases currently present in the air from those of National Emission Quality Standards (NEQS)’s range, ie, very polluted 100 mg/m3. The biggest SOx value was recorded at Kalma Chowk at 155 mg/m3 while amount of NOx was much high in Ichhra ie, 125 mg/m3.

Anarkali and Ichhra were also polluted with high amount of Cox ie, 247 mg/m3 and 182 mg/m3, respectively. Sound levels were much higher in Anarkali and Urdu Bazaar ie, 101.2 db than those of NEQS range ie, 70 db.

The pollution levels in Anarkali and Ichhra areas exceeded the given pollution limits in the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and World Health Organisation (WHO). There is desperate need to take preventive measures as such high amounts of gases (SOx,NOx,COx) and dust particles may greatly increase respiratory diseases amongst the masses. app

This is a good move, should it ever get completed. Have been hearing about this for years now. I recall Shahbaz Sharif announced something about this a while back but nothing got started.

CDGL to shift Badami Bagh bus stand to Shahdara (http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\08\22\story_22-8-2011_pg13_5)

LAHORE: City District Government Lahore (CDGL) has decided to shift the Badami Bagh bus stand to Shahdara, observing that the nearby historic monuments were being damaged owing to the massive vibrations caused by movement of heavy-duty vehicles in the area, Daily Times learnt on Sunday.

The monuments, including Badshahi Mosque, Lahore Fort, Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Minar-e-Pakistan and many others, have been facing decay and damage at the hands of the aforementioned factors for decades.

The presence of the Badami Bagh bus stand had always remained the biggest threat to these monuments because massive vibrations caused by the mobility of tens of thousands of vehicles to and from the area caused serious damage to the structure of nearby buildings.

The phenomenon even caused the turret of Jahangir’s northern quadrangle in Lahore Fort to collapse in 2007. The government was severely criticised for its negligence in preserving the historic site and the authorities made numerous promises to remove the bus stand, as experts termed its proximity to the bus station one of the key reasons behind the fall of the centuries-old structure.

The northeastern turret of Jahangir’s quadrangle at the Lahore Fort collapsed on September 24, 2007 due to heavy monsoon showers. The incident even triggered a blame game between the Punjab and federal archaeology departments, as both had remained guardians of the fort during various eras, and accused each other of using substandard materials in repairing the quadrangle previously.

Renowned art historian Prof Dr Ajaz Anwar told Daily Times that he fully supported the shifting of the bus stand since it would also affect the business at the Azam Cloth Market, which was one of the biggest trade markets of Lahore. He added that Lahore belonged to an ancient civilisation and the significance of its areas and of the entire city was at par with other ancient cities such as Rome, Paris and London, yet the city had been totally neglected by the government throughout history. He said that the presence of the Lorry Adda bus stand made Lahore one of the most polluted and ill-preserved cities in the world. He said that it was a good initiative on part of the CDGL to shift the stand to Thokar Niaz Baig and Shahdara as it would help in decreasing the pollution in the city.

Meanwhile, District Coordination Officer (DCO) Ahad Cheema was not available to comment despite several attempts of contact.

LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) is to relax its building by-laws and make special regulations for the Finance and Trade Centre in MA Johar Town.

Under regulations currently in force, a plot measuring more than four kanals cannot have more than four basements. However, five basements will be allowed at the centre. A plot more than 20 kanal sin area is required to have a mandatory 20 feet-wide open space. The open-space requirement in the trade centre has been reduced to 15 feet.

Specifications for height of buildings have yet to be finalised, the decision will be reached after consultation with the Civil Aviation Authority. Construction work on the project will begin after a soil survey of the site. The LDA has already allocated Rs500 million for construction and improvement of infrastructure in the area.

An open auction of plots reserved for construction of a five-star hotel and a superstore at the trade centre will take place on September 10, 2011. The auction of the two plots measuring 114 kanals and 90 kanals, postponed at the potential buyer’s request, was earlier set to take place on August 23 August, 2011.

The Finance and Trade centre is being established by the LDA on 1,123 kanals near Expo Centre. Besides a superstore and a five star hotel, space has been set aside for a bank (69 kanals), health club (27 kanals), hospital (25 kanals), a mosque (five kanals), recreation area (75 kanals), mini golf club (32 kanals) and a park and lake (42 kanals).

Multi-storey apartments will be constructed on 40 kanals and a service area on eight kanals. As much as 388 kanals will be taken up by roads. A separate 111 kanals zone is set aside for commercial purposes and 101 kanals for corporate office and LDA Tower.

Crazy CAA. they dont need worry about anything this place is at least 40+ KM form the airport

lahore is becoming the new karachi i suppose.

^^
Never in a million years.

^^
Never in a million years.

In what sense ?

Lahore is already better guyss..... be positive :)

Crazy CAA. they dont need worry about anything this place is at least 40+ KM form the airport

To be precise, 25 kms...

http://www.dailywaqt.com/220811/Images/p2-10.gif

^^
Never in a million years.
lahore is already wayyy better thn karachi, been to both and loved lahore

lahore is already wayyy better thn karachi, been to both and loved lahore

yes i agree wiv u...

not again :(

Mayo Gardens (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=mayo+gardens+lahore&ll=31.555664,74.350512&spn=0.010331,0.01929&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&t=h&z=16&vpsrc=6), One of my favourite places in Lahore, for its charm alone if not for the amazing old trees! This is a gem.

Has any one else visited this place, what do you think of it?

The report/artile below is a bit alarming for me then. Is there anything in Lahore that I like and which the govt. or others are not out to destroy? Can we not learn to cherish anything in the city?

Uncertain times for Mayo Gardens (http://logicisvariable.blogspot.com/2011/08/salman-rashid-in-mayo-gardens.html)

Defence Raya Lahore,

Beautiful pictures from the events are on facebook here,

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Defence-Raya-Golf-Country-Club/170239446326484?sk=photos

linking one,

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/224528_263388287011599_170239446326484_1342853_4351616_n.jpg

^^ We have separate thread for Defence Raya Golf & Country Club...

amazing.....

the houses at raya are a bit of a disappointment. they look like townhouses but worse. they dont have an appealing design and from a couple of photos, i could notice bad finishing job.

Does anybody know anything about "Aiwan-e-Quid-e-Azam"? I saw in news PM was inaugrating this prject in Lahore.

^^ New thread opened for that project...

Chief minister approves modern fruit and vegetable market project

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif approved the setting up of a fruit and vegetable market at Kacha, Ferozepur Road on Wednesday. The chief minister constituted a committee, under the chairmanship of Member of National Assembly (MNA) Afzal Khokhar, to look over the project and held a meeting to issue instructions to shift the market from Kot Lakhpat to Kacha within a year.

While presiding over the meeting, he said that a large piece of land was selected at Kacha to setup the market which would introduce a new culture and promote modern economic and trade activities. He said that the market-site was near Motorway, Ring Road and Railway Crossing which made its location strategic to promote trade. He also issued instructions to contact the railway authorities to link the fruit and vegetable market with the railway system.

He told the MNA to review the models of markets in Turkey, Thailand and China in order to build a modern fruit and vegetable market in Lahore.

i will Never Compare Karachi and lahore. only buildings on shahrah e Faisal road of Karachi city is more than whole Lahore city's buliding. Karachi has get rid from 15 to 17 or 20 floors buildings u/c buildings are 300 meters and 60 to 70 floors and You see in Lahore many buildings are less than 15 floors and Lahories say tower to these 12 storey buildings.

^^ who are you replying too.....??? :)

You can Never Compare Lahore and lahore only buildings on shahrah e Faisal road of Karachi city is more than whole Lahore city's buliding Karachi has get rid from 15 to 17 or 20 floors buildings u/c buildings are 300 meters and 60 to 70 floors and You see in Lahore many buildings are less than 15 floors and Lahories say tower to these 12 storey buildings

I think it is stupid to compare Lahore with Karachi. They are both beautiful cities. Karachi has its own charm and beauty(Taller buildings, beautiful beaches etc.) where as Lahore has its own Charm and beauty(History, culture, Modern and older areas, Gardens, Lahore Ring Road etc). So we should never get into this debate... As far as 60 or 70 storied buildings are concerned, Lahore would have had a complex of towers (Sheikh Zaid centre) including few 45 storied towers and a 72 storied tower. But it will soon have real sky scrapers in Expo centre and Lahore trade and finance centre... Inshallah...

Karachi and Lahore both rock....

You can Never Compare Lahore and lahore only buildings on shahrah e Faisal road of Karachi city is more than whole Lahore city's buliding Karachi has get rid from 15 to 17 or 20 floors buildings u/c buildings are 300 meters and 60 to 70 floors and You see in Lahore many buildings are less than 15 floors and Lahories say tower to these 12 storey buildings

And the chain of annoying posts continues by this kid.

^^ New thread opened for that project...

But Where? there isnt any in the list of projects

But Where? there isnt any in the list of projects

See this here (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1436183)

Garden Town Boulevard:
Going from Kalma flyover to Y Junction

West side = Fully completed including lane marking
East side = Road completed but 50% lane marking done

Development finance: Funding woes threaten to derail mass transit train

http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/240298-Railwaytrack-1314391767-121-640x480.jpg

The fate of the Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System (LRMTS) project hangs in the balance as the federal government has yet to agree to be a guarantor to a $1.445 billion loan the Punjab government needs to obtain from China.

A Finance Department official speaking on condition of anonymity said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had broached the subject in a meeting with Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani at Prime Minister’s Secretariat in the second week of August but no progress could be made.

He said earlier the Finance Department had already requested the Ministry of Finance to be a guarantor to the loan. “Provinces cannot secure foreign loans without the federal government providing a guarantee to the lender,” he said.

Meanwhile, a Transport Department official said that the Export Import (EXIM) Bank of China had yet to respond to a provincial government request, seeking processing of the loan. He said the provincial government had suggested that after the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, the provinces could secure loans on their own subject to conditions laid out by the National Economic Council (NEC).

Lahore Transport Company chairman Khwaja Ahmed Hassaan told The Express Tribune that the government had this week received a letter from EXIM Bank. However, he added, he was still unaware of the contents of the letter. Hassaan said a meeting would likely be convened in a couple of days in this regard.

An official said that under the two memorandums of understanding (MoU) signed between the provincial government and the Chinese firm, NORINCO, the latter was to ensure that processing of the loan took place without any glitches. Under the agreement, the provincial government was to bear 15 per cent of the cost of the project. The rest was to be provided by the EXIM Bank of China in the form of a loan. The total cost of the project was estimated at $1.7 billion.

The MoUs signed in April and July stated that NORINCO would lay the 27-kilometre (km) track from Gajju Matta, on Ferozepur Road, to Shahdara. As much as 7 km of the track would be underground.

The official said NORINCO had also agreed to obtain a letter of interest by EXIM Bank for the project within a month of the signing of the second MoU. The official said no groundbreaking ceremony was held on August 14 as planned earlier because of the uncertainty about the funding for the project.

LTC chairman Hassaan said tenders will not be invited unless the Chinese company refused to undertake the project. He said the company had the right of first refusal under the MoUs.

The LRMTS project was first proposed in 1991 after a study carried out by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). In 2008, a feasibility study report was prepared by Systra, a French company, and a ceremony held at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.

The Lahore Transport Company (LTC) is currently in charge of negotiations with the Chinese authorities.

Canal Road: Compromise no closer in widening project

Neither conservationists nor government officials are satisfied with a ‘compromise’ suggested by a mediation committee to their standoff over plans to widen Canal Road.

The Supreme Court had set up the mediation committee, headed by lawyer Parvez Hassan, after the Lahore Bachao Tehreek (LBT) challenged the Punjab government’s plans to widen Canal Road, which would require the felling of dozens of trees on the green belt either side of the road.

Only July 4, the committee submitted its recommendations to the Supreme Court after five months of deliberation. On August 16, the court reserved its verdict on the conservationists’ petition against the project.

The committee’s report, available with The Express Tribune, includes 18 ‘recommendations’, most of which call for steps to improve the environment in and around the Canal of the kind that groups like the Lahore Bachao Tehreek advocate.

However, it also suggests widening certain sections of the road, a proposition that conservation activists reject entirely. Meanwhile, government engineers and urban planners say the suggestions are impractical and will not solve the problem of traffic congestion on the road.

Imrana Tiwana of the LBT told The Express Tribune that the committee’s recommendation for widening of certain sections of the road contradicted the first 16 recommendations.

Architect Kamil Khan Mumtaz of the Lahore Conservation Society agreed. “Widening of the road means inviting problems. The traffic congestion will not be eased but will worsen in coming years,” he said.

He said the committee’s other recommendations – add a network of service roads, rebuild the underpasses on the left side of the road, improve traffic management and public transport, etc – were sufficient to ease congestion on the road.

Israr Saeed, the director of the Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (TEPA), which is in charge of the project, rejected virtually all the recommendations, saying they were impractical. He advocated Tepa’s earlier project plan for widening the entire road and making it into a three-lane “urban highway”.

He said widening only some sections of the road would cause increased traffic congestion at bottlenecks, especially in the section after Doctor’s Hospital. He said re-engineering traffic junctions would involve a massive expenditure with little payoff.

Saeed dismissed the suggestion that the Canal be declared a heritage park and that schools be forced to introduce bus services for their students. “We tried engaging students, schools and parents in a similar project and it was a failure. Parents don’t want their children travelling on public transport when proper security can’t be ensured,” he said.

The recommendation that the Punjab University area on Canal Road be declared a ‘go-slow’ area with speed-breakers was “a fantasy”, he said. “How can you have speed-breakers on an urban highway?”

He said that the Punjab government’s promise to replace each tree that it chops down for the project with 100 mature trees was not a problem. “Tepa has 250,000 mature trees.

In the last two years, we’ve planted 230,000 trees in Lahore, including 10,000 along the Canal,” he said Finally, he said the city was not ready for suggestions such as ‘car-free’ days and a monthly public festival. “Such things can happen in civilised countries only,” he said.

Rafay Alam, the secretary of the mediation committee, said the court should adopt all the recommendations as they addressed the concerns of all sides. In its conclusion, the report states: “the committee is of the view that the strength and weight of its recommendations will be diluted if there is any ‘cherry picking’ of its recommendations.”

But Hassan, the head of the committee, said it was for the court to decide what to do. “The court may pick a few recommendations, may order the implementation of all the recommendations or may give a completely different verdict,” he said.

He said that declaring the Canal a heritage park would not mean banning road construction in the area.

Salman Aslam Butt, who is representing the government in the case, said the government supported the recommendations in principle. Seeking anonymity, a lawyer at his firm said it was very likely the court would allow the road to be widened.

Abdul Jabbar Shaheen, the director general of the Lahore Development Authority, said he had not seen the final report, said there was no point deciding where the new trees would be planted until the Supreme Court gave its verdict.

Urban planning expert Arif Hassan, who was also part of the committee but withdrew before the report was finalised, told the committee’s head that he believed the road should not be widened at all. He wrote in an email that this would result in the loss of “3.535 kilometres of beautiful landscape and flora … simply because of automobile pressure. In fact, some areas already lost to traffic along the Canal should be reclaimed.”

1) Pass an act declaring the Lahore Canal to be a ‘heritage urban park’
2) Correct the underpasses on the Canal which are on the wrong side of the road
3) Re-engineer Canal Road junctions,
i) to increase traffic capacity on roads traversing the Canal, and
ii) remove unplanned access roads built by housing schemes
4) Construct a network of service roads, reclaim roads absorbed by housing societies and schools
5) Design and implement a traffic management programme
6) Improve public transport
7) Divert through-traffic by building new traffic corridors, such as the Southern Loop of the Ring Road
8) Make the Punjab University New Campus a ‘go-slow’ area
9) Treat the Canal in a holistic manner
10) Consider concerns about noise pollution
11) Preserve the Canal ecosystem, such as its various tree and bird species
12) End the dumping of sewage and effluent and improve water quality so it is safe for swimming
13) Give pedestrians and bicyclists a higher priority in urban planning
14) Build more recreation spots, organise carnivals on the Canal to build community spirit
15) Set up advisory committee to encourage public participation in governance of Canal
16) Ease traffic congestion in short term to improve access of emergency vehicles
17) and 18) Suggestions for measures to improve traffic flow at specific parts of Canal Road.

:nuts:

^^ I bet none of these fools live around Canal Rd and live in high figh Defense societies and make once in a life time visit on Canal Rd .. lol

OMG just read number 2 again & again :bash:

OMG just read number 2 again & again :bash:

my brain stopped functioning after the second time.. :nuts: