A comparison of DPS(Allah hoo Chowk) Roundabout - Kasur


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:banana:

If only they'd switch to underground transmision lines - the places would look so much better!

but they have done a gud job putting green belts around the transmission lines.. gud job done by punjab govt..:)

Mother Bitch... this is good...!!

A comparison of DPS(Allah hoo Chowk) Roundabout - Kasur

Before
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After
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Its looks good man in after wards pics..

A comparison of DPS(Allah hoo Chowk) Roundabout - Kasur


After
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Ive been there! Its near Khudian Khas!

Due to flood crisis in Southern Punjab, CM announced that the development budget of Punjab will be spend on the relief activities.....Sad news but we have no other option....


CM arrived on the site on Motorcycle.....:laugh:

Due to flood crisis in Southern Punjab, CM announced that the development budget of Punjab will be spend on the relief activities.....Sad news but we have no other option....


CM arrived on the site on Motorcycle.....:laugh:

any pic :D

seems like some one like those palm tree soo much :D CM giving arabic touch to the road lolzzz

any pic :D

seems like some one like those palm tree soo much :D CM giving arabic touch to the road lolzzz

Those trees looks good BTW...
Anyhow here the video:

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Wow nice road, and i thought punjub govt is useless so hatoff to them but as they say don't judge govt by a road :)

Punjab to set up model villages for flood victims: CM



Our correspondent
LAHORE: Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has said that 90 percent of the flood affectees belong to the poorest strata of society and have lost savings of their whole life.
He was talking to Chief Executive Officer and Director General Pakistan Telecommunication Limited Waleed Irshad who called on him here on Saturday and presented him a cheque worth Rs5 million on behalf of his department for flood relief.
The chief minister lauded the humanitarian spirit of CEO of the PTCL. He said the Punjab government had allocated all-out resources for the relief and rehabilitation of the flood affectees and elected representatives, workers and administrative officers had been serving the distressed people from the very first day. He said rehabilitation of flood victims was an enormous challenge and no government could face it alone, therefore, all segments of society would have to play its role in this regard.
Our correspondent adds from Muzaffargarh: Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that the Punjab government in collaboration with Turkey will construct homes for flood-hit people while rubber dams will be constructed to control floods.
He was addressing the ground-breaking ceremony of a 100-home model village in Miran Mullah here on Saturday. He said that each house would consist of two rooms, a kitchen, a washroom and a lawn. He added that free fertilizers and seeds would be provided to each farmer having up to 12.5 acres. “Watan Cards worth Rs20,000 each will be distributed among all the affectees without any discrimination,” he said.
The chief minister thanked the Turkish government and people for extending their cooperation for the rehabilitation of flood-hit people. He disclosed that the Iranian government had also assured full cooperation for the affectees. Senior Adviser to CM Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Madam Zakia Shahnawaz, MNA Malik Afzal Khokhar, MPA Hafiz Nauman and PML-N leaders were also present.
Turkish businessmen said that they had launched campaigns for flood affectees in Turkey. “The disaster in Pakistan has saddened us a lot,” they said, adding that a plane carrying relief including food, medicine and generators would be sent to Pakistan soon. They assured maximum support for the affectees.
Rizanur Meral, president of the Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey (Tuskon), said that 3,000 members of the confederation had already pledged aid to Pakistan. “From the very first day of the disaster, we have asked our members to extend maximum support to Pakistan,” he said. Cihad Vardar, head of the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (MUSIAD), said they were helping Pakistan during the time of need. “Our growing trade relations with Pakistan push us to extend more support. A train carrying humanitarian aid left Ankara, the Turkish capital, for flood-hit Pakistan Tuesday last. The train carries 300 prefabricated houses, 2,000 food parcels, 930 sacks of flour, hygienic materials, dry food and drinking water. Pakistan has supported Turkey whenever it faced hard time,” he added.

Kasur-Depalpur road

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I must say that Simple but very good looking and attractive sign boards :) These are the same type of sign boards that can be seen on LRR.

The Punjab government intends to set up industrial estates in Rahim Yar Khan and on Lahore Kasur Road and in this connection Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has asked the concerned department to identify lands. "Maximum sites should be identified to set up industrial estates in the province," he said while addressing a board meeting of Punjab Industrial Estates Development and Management Company (PIEDMC) here on Friday, disclosed an official.

According to an official, establishment of industrial estate in Rahim Yar Khan will produce far-reaching results as the district has airport facility near Bahawalpur and Cholistan. A modern slaughterhouse can be set up there too. Meat and other dairy products could be exported to Gulf states. The government is taking effective measures for improving livestock sector and five dairy farms have been set up in Cholistan. In view of limited financial resources, land should be searched for setting up industrial estate in Rahim Yar Khan and Member Board of Revenue should visit the district for this purpose.

He also said Lahore Kasur Road has been completed and sites should be identified on either side of the road for setting up industrial estates. "Private sector will be encouraged for the promotion of industries. Sundar Industrial Estate should be a role model for other industrial estates and offices of concerned departments should be established there for the provision of all necessary facilities through one window operation," he added.

He said that promotion of industries was one of the top priorities of the government and solid steps were being taken for this purpose. Promotion of industrial sector would generate employment opportunities and strengthen economy. Punjab Industrial Estates has taken effective measures for the promotion of industries and services of its chairman and chief executive officer are commendable in this regard. There is need for marching forward speedily for the promotion of industries in the province and he wants better results in the next board meeting of PIEDMC. TEVTA should take prompt steps for setting up vocational institutes in Sundar Industrial Estate to produce skilled workforce to meet industrial needs. Pakistan is facing shortage of energy, which is vital for industrial sector. Attention should be paid to generate electricity from alternative sources and proposals should be formulated in this regard.

"Private sector should be encouraged to invest in energy sector. Establishment of maximum industrial estates for the promotion of industrial sector is the need of the hour and PIE should complete the process of identification of sites and present a report and in the light of the report a plan will be evolved to set up new industrial estates," he added.

He was of the view that Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC) is a dead horse and a plan should be evolved to make it a vibrant institution. He said that he had directed Secretary Industries to visit Sundar Industrial Estate twice a month until it is completed and take steps for its early completion and provision of facilities in consultation with concerned officials. He also directed that the issue of Capital Value Tax on plots of Sundar Industrial Estate be resolved immediately.

Earlier, PIE Chairman S M Tanvir and CEO Major General Tariq Javed (Retd) gave a briefing. They said a branch of Bank of Punjab has been set up in Sundar Industrial Estate and austerity has been adopted. They also said PIE head office has also been transferred to Sundar Industrial Estate and a site has been allocated for TEVTA vocational institute. "Repossessed plots have been sold in a transparent manner," he added.

They also informed the meeting about establishment of different industrial estates in the province. Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated new building of Punjab Industrial Estate. MPA Arifa Khalid, Chairman Punjab Industrial Estates (PIE) S M Tanvir, Chairman Department for Special Initiatives, Haroon Khawaja, Secretary Industries, Member Board of Revenue, Chairman TEVTA, concerned officers and board members were also present on the occasion.

Finally........
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KASUR, Oct 29: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Friday inaugurated the Lahore-Kasur-Gandasingh Road which has been completed at a cost of over Rs5 billion.
The foundation stone of the 52.95-kilometre road was laid by former president Pervez Musharraf in 2005, but the project was delayed for one reason or another.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister claimed the project had been put on the backburner due to corruption and negligence, and the PML-N government after coming into power brought to book a number of contractors and C&W officials besides blacklisting the companies involved in irregularities.

In 2008, he said, the condition of the road was miserable and three contractors – one of them a foreign company -were assigned the task of completing the project but they tainted their credibility with corruption and got a stay order from court.

He said this mega project, which was envisaged as a trade route between Pakistan and India, was symbolic of the present government’s good intentions and zero tolerance against corruption. He said 52,000 saplings had been planted on the greenbelt along the road.

The chief minister said it was a wrong notion that he was strict with bureaucrats, saying he was against the corrupt and inefficient people. He awarded commendation certificates to Lahore Commissioner Khusro Pervaiz and C&W Secretary Azam Suleman. He also announced Rs500,000 for the labourers who worked efficiently to complete the road.

He also announced awards for Kasur DPO Gohar Nafees, DCO Malik Jahanzeb Awan and officials of the C&W and forest departments, and the three construction companies.

Meanwhile, the general public faced a great deal of inconvenience as the traffic police were alerted early in the morning about the chief minister’s visit. He arrived two hours late than the scheduled time of 10am.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday said that despite cut in the provincial budget due to floods, work on welfare projects would be carried on as aimed to provide basic facilities to the people and the government would not let any shortage come in the resources for these projects.

According to an official handout, Shahbaz was addressing a joint meeting of administration and public representatives in Sahiwal.

The chief minister said that those areas of the province would be given preference in the provision of development funds, which were more backward.

He announced development projects of billion of rupees for Sahiwal, which included establishment of a medical college at a cost of Rs one billion. He said that an amount of Rs 500 million was being released immediately for the medical college.

The CM announced laying of sewerage system at a cost of Rs 233.5 million in Sahiwal city and setting-up of another girls high school at a cost of Rs 120 million in Sahiwal. He said that 36 kilometres long dual carriage way was being constructed from Sahiwal to Pakpattan upon which the Punjab government was spending Rs 1.18 billion.

Similarly, a gymnasium was being constructed for citizens and government polytechnic institute for women at a cost of Rs 170 million, he added.

He announced provision of funds of Rs 230 million for the construction and widening of road from Arif Wala Chowk to Adda 46 and a cardiac unit would be set up in Cheechawatni Tehsil Hospital. Shahbaz said that he would himself supervise the construction and pace of all development projects.

He also announced establishment of Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education in Sahiwal. He directed district administration to shift existing grain market and fruit and vegetable markets outside the city within a week.

Expressing his views on a briefing given with regards to law and order, the chief minister said that the accused involved in heinous crimes like kidnapping for ransom, dacoities and rape were enemies of humanity and the government was determined to purge society of such elements.

Shahbaz directed the district police that such culprits should be chased to other cities and provinces and be brought to justice.

Lahore Kasur Road

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Ashiana Housing Scheme Project inaugurated

JALIL HASSAN AKHTAR

LAHORE (December 03, 2010) : Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday speaking at the inauguration ceremony of 'Ashiana Housing Scheme Project' said that they were initiating housing scheme for the down trodden and low-income groups in line with the vision of PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif. He said this low-cost housing scheme would be unparallel in quality in matching standards with any other similar scheme.

Nawaz especially participated at the ceremony along with federal and provincial legislators., People from different walks of life were also attended the ceremony. The chief minister showed his qualm that besides very few housing schemes, in the past 63-years, some schemes have been hit by corrupt practices and have gone down the drain.

Shahbaz stated that 10 percent quota for widows and destitute have been kept in the housing scheme. Elaborating on the mode of payment of the scheme said that Rs 4, 500 per monthly instalment for three-Marla area house; Rs 7, 500 instalment for per five-Marla house has been kept.

He said under the project six to seven thousand houses would be built in sooae assil where immediate work has commenced on construction of 3,000 houses. He said work would finish on the project in a year. The chief minister here cited bad state of work on Lahore-Kasur Ring Project undertaken in the past.

Nawaz in his address on the occasion applauded and congratulated the efforts of Punjab government in giving homes to the poor stating that accumulated sources of revenue from hard earned money should be spent on social welfare of the people.

Nawaz stated that in their government's last tenure they initiated scheme by the name of 'Mera Ghar' and other social welfare projects but unfortunately their government was dismissed, he pointed. He stressed upon to expand 'Ashiana Housing Scheme' to every nook and corner of the province and asked for officers to be deputed. Nawaz said this scheme is a blessing for the poor in this current era of high inflation.

A huge delegation of top Pakistani businessmen led by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif will visit Dubai from next Saturday to the following Monday to lure investors and boost trade relations, Gulf News has learnt.
The highlight of the visit will be an investment conference at Emirates Towers Hotel on Monday. The conference will be attended by potential investors, both Pakistani and expatriate, and officials from the Dubai government, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Dubai Department of Economic Development.
More than 100 businessmen and the Punjab government officials will be among the delegation. The event is being organised by the Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT).
During the visit, Punjab Chief Minister Sharif will also hold talks with the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) on co-operation to develop a metro system in Lahore similar to the Dubai Metro.

Traffic congestion
"Sharif will meet the RTA official and visit the Dubai Metro as he is interested in having a similar metro system in Lahore, which is facing acute traffic congestion," a diplomat at the Pakistan Embassy told Gulf News.
Apart from the investment conference, the businessmen are also expected to sign some business deals and memoranda of understanding with various business groups in Dubai.
"The purpose of the visit is not only to attract investement, but also to improve trade ties and raise exports from Punjab to the UAE," he said.
Pakistan's Punjab province is becoming a progressively more significant player on Asia's economic map. In 2010, the province with 92 million people is expected to exceed Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh in terms of the value of its gross provincial product.
"Punjab believes in free trade where there are no restrictions on exports or imports. We also welcome foreign direct investments and do not restrict the repatriation of profits and capital," said Sharif in a statement.
He added that Punjab has experienced an average growth rate of about 7.5 per cent since 2003.
As a largely agrarian province which is self-sustaining, Punjab enjoys an abundance of food and livestock output.
Some of the world's biggest crops are found here in rice, cotton, wheat, dairy and meat. It also has various mineral resources and a very large skilled labour force.

Flood aid in focus
More than 2,000 delegates from 52 countries are participating in the 38th India, South Asia, Africa and Middle East (ISAMEE) Forum Pakistan in Dubai to talk about investment projects and flood relief efforts in Pakistan.
About 800 delegates from Pakistan and India will discuss possibilities for initiating goodwill, economic and social welfare projects between the two countries.
The forum is being organised by the Lions Clubs International with the objective of portraying Pakistan's image as a peaceful country.

Launch ceremony of Ashiana Housing Project in Lahore on Saturday,The Chief Minister said that people under the monthly income of Rs. 20,000 will get ready homes under easy installation plan.

The Chief Minister said that the number of houses being built under this scheme has been increased to 6,000 from 3,000.

The project will cost Rs. 7 billion and will complete in two years.

Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif has said low-cost housing scheme 'Aashiyana' will be the first residential scheme where low-income people and labourers will have all basic facilities. "It will be the best housing schemes in the country," he added. The chief minister was addressing the foundation stone laying ceremony of Link Road leading Aashiyana Housing Project here on Saturday.

The chief minister said he would personally monitor this project for the welfare of poor masses and ensure its early completion. "A comprehensive programme has been evolved for provision of residential facilities and generation of job opportunities in the first Aashiyana Housing Scheme at Suae Asal. Separate land has been specified for cottage industry so that the labourers could have job opportunities at the local level instead of going to Lahore or Kasur," he added.

He said launching of low-cost housing scheme in the province was a revolutionary step of the government, which would fulfil the dream of poor people of having their own house. Aashiyana Housing Project would be the first residential scheme for the common man who would have not only have a great construction work but also schools, dispensaries, playgrounds for cricket, hockey and other sports as well as all necessary facilities.

He said 10 percent quota had been reserved for orphans, widows and families of martyrs in Aashiyana Housing Scheme and modalities have also been evolved for this purpose whereas remaining 90 percent houses would be given through transparent balloting. He also said in the first phase, 6000 houses would be constructed at Suae Asal within a year and 70,000 forms have been distributed so far for these houses.

"The foundation stone of the Link Road to Aashiyana Housing Project has been laid and the widening and improvement work of this 17 km long road from Suae Asal to Raiwind will be started from December 26, 2010. The construction of the road will result in provision of modern communication facilities to the residents. A high standard of construction work of the road would be ensured and besides installation of lights, tree plantation also be ensured," he added.

The chief minister said that national resources on large scale were plundered in the name of development projects in the past and development projects became icons of corruption while the present government put an end to malpractices and transformed these schemes into public welfare projects in real sense.

6000 houeses in one year... Hmmmmm!!

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So I took the GPS trace today when I was traveling from Faisalabad to Lahore. I called Motorway police helpline and they said the Kot Abdul Malik Interchange is not opened yet .. :( If it opens up , the picture explains how easy it would be to reach out back South Lahore or N5.

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Yes it will make a huge difference if they open this interchange. How much km's will the distance shorten if you take an exit from Kot abdul malik interchange?

Yes it will make a huge difference if they open this interchange. How much km's will the distance shorten if you take an exit from Kot abdul malik interchange?

About 10 KMs but the time is lessen by 20/30 mins as compared to other side due to bad road, bad chaotic heavy traffic and people all around.

That FSD LHE road was built in BOT if they open this interchange that means less money for the company who built this road... needless to say the matter is in court now

That FSD LHE road was built in BOT if they open this interchange that means less money for the company who built this road... needless to say the matter is in court now

This is partially true .. so If you see the picture, I am supposed to pay toll at KOT ABDUL MAALIK , after the motorway BUT if you paid toll at the previous exit, you are given a 12 HRS free pass from KOT ABDUL MALIK if you have the receipt and readable Bar Code on it. So this interchange is only going to be money loss for people who are travelling from within the kot abdul malik area section and choose motorway.

P.S: I won't mind paying 5-10 Rs extra if I have to take that exit and this share goes to LAFCO (the authority which managed the BTO road)

CHAIRMAN Punjab Land Development Company Sheikh Allauddin has said that the construction work of infrastructure would be completed within one year and the process of giving possession of constructed houses to the applicants will be completed within two years in “Aashyana” Housing Scheme as per commitment.

He said that 19,000 applications have been received for three thousands houses which was an expression of confidence of the people in people-friendly housing scheme of Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif.

He said that majority of applicants have demanded to launch such a people-friendly residential project near Lahore and Punjab Land Development Company has identified government land adjacent to DHA Phase 9 and 10 at Azam Chowk near Bank Stop on Ferozepur Road and has appealed to the Chief Minister Punjab to issue orders for allocation of this land for Aashyana Housing Scheme.

He expressed these views while addressing a press conference here on Monday. Sheikh Allauddin dispelled this impression that Punjab Land Development Company was receiving the processing fee of Rs 890 from the applicants.

He made it clear that this money is, in fact, a fee of the bank for verification of eligibility of applicant and the institution making arrangements for draw.

Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday presided over a meeting to review the pace of construction of model villages initiated in the flood affected areas. Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, MPAs Hafiz Mian Nauman and Khawaja Salman Rafique, Senior Member Board of Revenue, Secretary Local Government, Director General Provincial Disaster Management Authority and Chief Executive Officer Punjab Rural Support Programme were present.
The CM said the Punjab government had decided to set up model villages for affectees in the flood-hit areas and the construction work of these villages was being carried out expeditiously. “Model villages are being constructed from this money and transparent utilization of every penny is being ensured,” he added.
DG Provincial Disaster Management Authority Khalid Sherdil briefed the meeting, and donors were constructing seven thousand houses in 64 model villages whereas Punjab government was constructing 3860 houses in 36 villages. SMBR Akhlaq Ahmad Tarrar gave details of construction of model villages in the province.

* Minister informs Senate construction work in full swing

* Project will be completed by June 2012

Communications Minister Dr Arbab Alamgir Khan on Thursday informed the Senate that work on the construction of bridge across the River Chenab, linking Shorkot and Arh Maharaja, was being carried out smoothly and would be completed within the stipulated time.

To a question, he said that an amount of Rs 3.569 million out of the total Rs 576.176 million had been released so far for the project, adding that as the work on the project was in full swing it would be completed by June 2012, the project’s completion date.

To another question he said that an amount of Rs 201.528 million out of the total Rs 820.640 million had been also been released for the construction of a 2-lane bridge over River Chenab at the Head Muhammad Wala, Multan and it would also be completed within the stipulated time, which is December 2011.

He said that 62.80 percent of the work on the main bridge had been completed, while 93.14 percent work on the right approach road and 57.05 percent on the left approach had been finished.

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Need more!!

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Three thousand homes in 3 years...:okay:

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A project that was doomed

An excavation for building an 11-storey parking plaza in Jika Gali is turning to be an environmental disaster after the plan was given up, Dawn has learnt.

The proposed plaza was to address the most pressing need of parking for the ever increasing number of vehicles in Murree during the summer. As the tourists will swarm Murree in the coming days, its road like every year will be clogged.

Sources said Nespak conducted a survey of the site and declared it suitable for constructing the parking plaza. But as the huge machinery dug out the place, it turned out to be unsuitable with heavy water found underground. Sources added that the site was dangerous for any kind of construction. Started in 2009 with an allocated fund of Rs1 billion, the project was to be completed in 2011.

According to the Punjab government’s bylaws, in Murree only ground floor plus two-storey buildings can be constructed. But still the 11-storey parking plaza, a violation of the Punjab government’s building bylaws, was given go ahead.

Though the project has been wrapped up, the initial digging with heavy excavators is causing land sliding and blocking the road to Azad Kashmir. Recently the Kashmir Road has been connected with an iron bridge temporarily with only light vehicles allowed to use it.

Locals fear that the site area faces the danger of heavy land sliding, putting the lives of 3,000 people living below in two villages, Hill Dholo and Aora, at risk.

When the project was started, 38 shops in the market were demolished. The owners and shopkeepers were told that a ‘shopping plaza’ would be constructed on Lower Topa Road within six months and they would get shops in it.

It is now more than one-and-a-half year but no shopping plaza has been built. Shopkeepers say now they have been told to build their shops nearby again.

MNA Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who is also chairman of a steering committee for the development of Murree, did not deny negligence on the part of Nespak.

He said strict action will be taken against all those responsible for faulty planning. The legislator said after the problems surfaced, the Punjab government consulted foreign consultants. But they asked for nine months time for evaluating the site and proposing changes in the plaza’s design, Mr Abbasi said.

The change in design, he said, would make the project ‘expensive’.

“Now the government is considering some other suitable place for constructing the parking plaza.”

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has granted approval to the launching of Aashiyana Housing Schemes for low-income families in Faisalabad, Sargodha, Jhelum and Sahiwal on the pattern of Lahore and directed to start work on these schemes as early as possible.

He was presiding over a meeting regarding the Aashiyana Housing Project on Tuesday. Punjab Land Development Company Chairman Sheikh Alauddin, MNA Abid Sher Ali, MPAs Shehzadi Umerzadi Tiwana, Chaudhry Abdul Razaq Dhillon, Board of Revenue senior member, Planning and Development chairman, commissioners and district coordination officers of Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Sargodha and Sahiwal were also present on the occasion. The chief minister said that Aashiyana Housing Scheme for low-income families has been initiated for the first time in the history of the country, which is a revolutionary welfare project of the Punjab government and an important step towards transforming the country in accordance with the vision of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal. He said that the Aashiyana Housing Scheme was a coordinated project and houses were being constructed for the poor at a high value land near the cities.

Separately, while presiding over a meeting to review anti-encroachment drive in the provincial capital on Tuesday, Shahbaz said that anti-encroachment drive was in full swing in the city and was yielding positive results. He said that people not only have heaved a sigh of relief and the flow of traffic has improved but state land worth billions of rupees has also been recovered. He directed that the campaign against encroachments should be continued without any discrimination and should be completed within a month. He said that after Lahore, an anti-encroachment campaign would also be started in other districts of the province.

Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that encroachments have spoiled the beauty of cities and have not only caused problems to the people but have also hindered the flow of traffic. He said that anti-encroachment campaign has been started for the benefit of the people and restoring beauty of the cities.

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BAHAWALPUR: Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday condemned the ongoing drone attacks in the country carried out by US forces.

Sharif made the remarks about the attacks at the inauguration ceremony of the Danish school system near Chistian, around
150 kilometres from Bahawalpur.

He further noted that the attacks were a point of deep concern and if needed, a long March would be carried out to protest and stop these attacks. He expressed deep grief and sorrow over the killing of innocent people in drone attacks.

Addressing the ceremony, he said that the Punjab Government was committed to provide quality education to the youth and the Danish School System would
enable poverty stricken children to avail education free of cost.

The chief minister further announced plans for seven more Danish Schools to be set up in Punjab in phases during the next fiscal year. He claimed that poverty stricken children would be given priority in admissions and that deserving children of other provinces, including Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK), would also allowed into these schools.

The chief minister believed the Danish school system would help reduce illiteracy, militancy and unemployment in the region.

Sharif directed teachers of the new system to perform their duties and impart quality education to the students. He also advised the students to work hard in their studies to ensure better futures
for themselves and the country.

He further added that the Danish School System would help to reduce illiteracy, Militancy and unemployment in the south Punjab.

The estimated cost of the Danish school is around Rs800 million. The school has been built on 500 acres of land with separate sections for boys and girls.(Courtesy: Express Tribune)

Govt utilising resources for speedy development: Shahbaz

Lahore: CHIEF Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Monday that the Punjab government was utilising all the available resources for the speedy development of the province and provision of basic amenities to the masses while a special programme was being implemented for poverty alleviation and uplift of education, health and other sectors.

He said that establishment of Danish Schools in far-flung and backward areas would help the poor students realize their dream of having modern education. He said modern health facilities had become available to the rural areas through mobile health units. He said the government was attaching top priority to transparency and every penny of public money was being utilised in a transparent manner in the implementation of development projects. He was presiding over a meeting held to review implementation of ongoing development projects with the cooperation of the Department for International Development (DFID) of Britain and other uplift schemes in the province. The chief minister said three Danish Schools had been inaugurated in southern Punjab while more such schools would also be set up in Rajanpur, DG Khan, Attock and Mianwali this year. He said Danish Schools would provide modern education to the students of backward areas to enable them play an active role in national development and prosperity. He said special attention was being paid to the improvement of primary education which had fundamental importance in education. He said the maximum resources were being utilised for the improvement of education system at primary level, training of teachers, provision of basic facilities in schools and achievement of the target of hundred percent enrolment at primary level. The CM said the Punjab Educational Endowment Fund had been established for the benefit of students facing financial problems and scholarships were being awarded to the poor for studying at the leading educational institutions of the country. He said solid measures were also being taken for promotion of vocational education for overcoming unemployment and enabling the youth to support their families as well as play their role in national development and prosperity. Shahbaz said mobile health units were being imported for providing modern health facilities to people at their doorstep and the units had started functioning in flood-affected areas while such units equipped with the latest medical facilities would also be provided to all Tehsils under a phased programme. He said that DFID was extending commendable cooperation for poverty alleviation and provision of education, health and vocational education facilities in the backward areas.

Planning & Development Secretary Ali Tahir while briefing the meeting about ongoing development projects with the cooperation of DFID said that the DFID was extending cooperation to the government for welfare of the backward areas.(Courtesy: The News)

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Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that Aashiyana housing scheme (AHS) is an excellent project under which modern residential facilities would be available to the poor and the common man on the pattern of the housing schemes for the elite.

This was stated by him during a visit for reviewing the pace of Aashiyana housing scheme at Saroba Atari, here today.

The Chief Minister said that the credit for low-cost housing scheme goes to Pakistan Muslim League-N which has materialized the dream of the common man to have his own house.

He said that project of construction of college, playground and gymnasium should also be made part of Aashiyana housing scheme while extension project of Bhatta Chowk should be completed by May 10th for streamlining the flow of traffic and providing relief to the people at the earliest.

The Chief Minister said that a low-cost housing scheme has been initiated for the poor and the common man first time in the history of the country which will promote a realization in the ordinary citizens that they have as much right over national resources as the elite classes.

He said that Aashiyana housing schemes are being developed on high value land nearest to the cities. He said that after Lahore, approval has also been granted for Aashiyana housing scheme in Jehlum, Sargodha, Sahiwal and Faisalabad and the scope of the scheme will be extended to the whole province. He said that allotment of houses in Aashiyana housing scheme will be made through balloting in a highly transparent manner and ten percent quota has been allocated for martyrs, widows, orphans and disabled persons in these schemes. He said that maximum resources are being utilized for the early completion of Aashiyana housing scheme and a modern infrastructure is also being developed.

He directed that the project for setting up a 50-bed hospital and extension of approach road from Ferozpur Road to Aashiyana housing scheme should be evolved while steps should also be taken to cover the drain passing by the scheme. He further directed that suitable locations should be identified for the construction of college, gymnasium and a playground under this scheme and a detailed briefing should be given to him in this regard during his next visit. He directed Director General PHA to evolve a plan for developing an excellent and eye-catching park in Aashiyana housing scheme.

LAHORE – Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has given assent to the proposals regarding agreement of 120 Megawatt Taunsa hydro-power project and mapping of wind power potential in the province.
He gave this approval while presiding over a meeting of the provincial cabinet at Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Saturday.
Addressing the cabinet meeting, Shahbaz said Pakistan was facing serious crisis of energy which was leaving negative impacts on all sectors including agriculture, industry, trade and foreign investment. He said the government was working on various projects for getting energy through alternative sources and the Punjab Power Development Company had been set up in the province for this purpose. The chief minister said a plan of 120 Megawatts hydro power project at Taunsa had been prepared and a formal approval to this project was given in the cabinet meeting.
He said during his visit to China, an agreement would be signed with the Chinese company China Water and Electric Corporation. Similarly, the same company would also carry out a survey of mapping of wind power potential in Punjab for generating energy through wind.
Shahbaz said the government would not have to provide any financial resources in this regard as the Chinese company would bear all expenses for carrying out this survey. The government would seek cooperation of companies of other countries in the projects of generating energy through wind, he said. The meeting also reviewed in detail the law and order situation in the province and commended the performance of Punjab police over successful operation against the outlaws involved in heinous crimes in the Kacha area of Rajanpur. The meeting expressed gratitude to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for providing equipment and logistic support during this operation. Shahbaz stressed that law enforcement agencies should make intelligence system and exchange of information more effective so that timely action could be ensured against anti-social elements.
He said an effective system would be evolved for checking of all important places including inns, hotels and guest houses and if any police official demonstrated negligence in this regard, strict action should be taken against him.
The chief minister directed that a plan should be formulated for inducting new blood in police force for meeting the shortage of jawans in police, and also sought recommendations from the inspector general of police and the home secretary in this regard.
The chief minister directed the inspector general of police that if hideouts of the outlaws involved in heinous crimes were found anywhere, they should be hit hard and the government would provide all possible resources for this purpose.
He said a vigilant eye should also be kept on those areas in future where operation against heinous crimes had been carried out.
Shahbaz directed that the process of preparations should be started from averting any possible flood in future and wherever repair of protective spurs is needed, these should be repaired and strengthened immediately.
Earlier, Chief Secretary Nasir Mehmood Khan gave briefing about energy projects in the province. Secretary Irrigation Rab Nawaz Khan highlighted important aspects of Taunsa Hydro-Power Project and wind power projects.
IGP Javed Iqbal while narrating the details of operation against the criminals said 196 culprits involved in heinous crimes had been arrested in Rajanpur.
He told that approval had been given to 41 Riverine Posts in the province and the construction work of these posts was going on.
He further informed that 49 motorboats would also be provided to these posts, which would further improve the performance of police deployed in these areas.

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Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that Aashiyana Housing Scheme is a revolutionary project of the Punjab government under which such modern residential facilities will be provided to the poor, laborers, orphans, widows and the families of martyrs as are available in the housing schemes for the elite, says a handout.

He said transparency in the execution of development projects is the hallmark of the present government and like Daanish Schools, Aashiyana Housing Schemes will also be completed in a transparent manner. He said balloting for the first Aashiyana Housing Scheme will be held on May 1 and in the first phase keys of 400 houses will be given to the lucky winners of the draw in the next three months.

He was talking to media after a briefing meeting regarding the pace of implementation of Aashiyana Housing project at Saroba Atari, here on Sunday. Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Chairman Punjab Land Development Company Sheikh Allauddin, Members Provincial Assembly, Chairman Planning and Development, Senior Member Board of Revenue, Secretary Housing, Chairman Punjab Information Technology Board, Secretary Information and senior officers concerned were present. Secretary C&W Maj ® Azam Salman and Commissioner Lahore Division Nadeem Hassan Asif give a detailed briefing regarding construction of link roads and provision of health, education and sports facilities in Aashiyana Housing Scheme respectively. He said 10 per cent quota had been reserved for widows, orphans, disabled and the families of martyrs in Aashiyana Housing Schemes and Punjab government would itself make the down payment of Rs 2.5 lakh for the houses of such persons.
He said that provincial government was utilising all available resources for the welfare and betterment of the masses and the low-cost Aashiyana Housing Scheme was an important step towards transforming the country in accordance with the vision of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal and promoting a feeling among the common citizens that they have an equal right over national resources. The chief minister congratulated the elected representatives, administrative officers and the entire team engaged in furthering Aashiyana Housing Project for their cooperation in the noble cause of implementation of this welfare project. He said media which was playing an important role in reformation of the society should also highlight such welfare activities. He said Aashiyana Housing Schemes would be completely free from corruption and media should point out if any shortcoming was detected.

400 hundreds houses will be completed in 3 months...

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A historic agreement was signed between China and Punjab in Beijing on Wednesday for generation of 120 megawatt electricity from Taunsa Barrage.
To be completed with the cooperation of China in three years, the project will cost Rs.26 billion. According to an official handout, Chairman Punjab Development Company Babar Nadeem and the Chairman of the State Corporation which produces 30,000 megawatt electricity in China, Wang Shao Fang signed the agreement.
Addressing the signing ceremony, the Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif expressed his gratitude to the Chinese government and people and said that generation of power from Taunsa Barrage would be a historic event.
He said that loadshedding besides creating problems for Pakistani people, had also affected industrial and business activities. He said that generation of power from Taunsa Barrage would help mobilise economy as well as generate employment opportunities.
He said that the low-cost power generation project had paved the way for foreign investment in energy and other sectors in Punjab and it is hoped that Pakistan would be able to overcome the serious issue of loadshedding through such projects.
He expressed the confidence that China could play an important role in ridding Pakistan of loadshedding.
Meanwhile, at the invitation of Chinese Communist Party, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif met its senior leadership at Great People’s Hall.
Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Rana Sanaullah, Khawaja Ahmed Hasaan, Saud Majid, Hafiz Mian Nauman, Zaeem Hussain Qadri, Rana Mubashar Iqbal, Kiran Imran, Shamsa Gohar and a number of important leaders of Chinese Communist Party were present on the occasion.
Talking to the visiting delegation from Punjab, senior leader of Chinese Communist Party Jia Qing Lin said that Chinese Communist Party was deeply interested in the reforms programme by PML-N.
He also stressed the need of better working relationship and increased contacts between the Communist Party of China and PML-N.
The Chief Minister Punjab said that equitable distribution of resources and welfare of the deprived segments of the society was the common agenda of both the parties.
INP adds: China’s top political adviser Jia Qinglin met with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahbaz Sharif in Beijing on Wednesday, where the officials vowed to maintain exchanges between political parties in both countries.
Jia, a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee’s Political Bureau, spoke highly of the relationship between the CPC and Pakistani political parties.
He said the CPC will maintain high-level exchanges with the PML-N, strengthen communication between young politicians and promote sound, stable and sustainable development in relations between the two countries.
Shahbaz said the PML-N, Pakistan’s largest Opposition party, attaches great importance to its relations with the CPC.
It will further enhance exchanges and cooperation with the CPC, learn from the party and promote the in-depth development of Pakistan-China relations, he said.
Jia, also Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, said the relationship between China and Pakistan was ‘solid as a rock’, and the two countries ‘harmonious, trustful and friendly’ relationship has become a model of the kind of relationship that can exist between countries with different cultural backgrounds.
‘China will continue to support Pakistan’s efforts to safeguard national security, maintain social stability and promote economic development. China also appreciates the firm support given by the Pakistani government on issues concerning China’s core interests’, Jia added.
He vowed that the Chinese government will encourage more companies to join in Pakistan’s development. China will work with Pakistan to deepen their friendship and expand cooperation.

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No cut in funds for uplift schemes despite flood: CM

LAHORE: Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif said on Saturday that despite the devastation by the worst-ever flood no cut was made in the funds allocated for schemes for education, health and other basic amenities during the current financial year.

He was presiding over a meeting to get proposals with regard to fixing the priorities of Annual Development Programme 2011-12 at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. Targets of Annual Development Programme 2010-11 were also reviewed.

Shahbaz said that all the resources would also be utilised for provision of infrastructure and other facilities to people of the province during the next year. He said solid steps would be taken for bringing the backward and less-developed areas at par with the developed areas.

He said the government was importing mobile health units for ensuring provision of modern health facilities to people at their doorsteps and six mobile health units had started working in the flood-hit areas, adding that a large number of people were being benefited from the units.

He said mobile health units would be provided in each Tehsil under a phased programme. He said 20 more mobile health units would be imported during current year whereas, 30 mobile health units would be imported during next year.

The chief minister said that besides free medicines and dialysis in the hospitals of the province, new hospitals and medical colleges were also being established. He said special attention had also been paid to the provision of education, infrastructure, safe drinking water and other basic facilities to people. He said provision of clean drinking water was of great importance for protecting people from diseases, therefore, the department concerned should evolve a solid strategy for providing potable water to people.

Sub-committees on education, health, infrastructure, agriculture and land were constituted during the meeting which would present their recommendations for evolving a concrete course of action in connection with next annual development programme.

Lauded the proposals of the participants of the meeting, the chief minister said that service to people was the government’s duty, therefore, the members of the committees constituted in connection with annual development programme should actively participate in the meetings and put forth proposals. (Courtesy: The News)

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Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that credit for helping the low-income people realize the dream of owning their own houses, goes to the PML-N which started Aashiyana housing project in the province. He said that, after Lahore, work on Aashiyana housing schemes will be started in Faisalabad, Sargodha, Sahiwal and Jehlum next month.

He was presiding over a meeting regarding the Aashiyana housing project at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that Aashiyana housing schemes, equipped with modern residential facilities, had been started by the government for the first time in the country’s history for the benefit of the poor, widows, orphans and the families of martyrs. He said that the common man would have all those residential facilities in Aashiyana Housing Schemes which were available to the elite in modern housing societies. He said that transparency in the execution of the development projects was the hallmark of Punjab government and Aashiyana housing schemes would also be completed in a highly transparent manner.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif Wednesday visited Bahawalpur and inspected the under construction dual carriage-way, Model Town-A, flyover, craft bazaar and vocational training institute Islamia Colony.

He also gave approval to the construction of dual carriage-way from Kotla Moosa Khan to Dhor Kot, Boys and Girls Degree colleges in Hatheji Mubarakpur, says a handout released here.

Commissioner Bahawalpur Division Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmedinformed briefed him on the pace of work of construction of roads, water supply and other projects to be completed at a cost of more than Rs. 3.5 billion in the Division.

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‘Punjab has vast coal reserves for power generation’

LAHORE: Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has said that the Pakistani people consider Turkey as their second home due to sincerity and love of Turkish brethren.

He pointed out that the close ties between both the countries did not reflect in economic and trade sectors and it was the need of the hour that the two countries increased their cooperation in the sectors.

He was talking to a seven-member Turkish delegation, comprising representatives of various companies, led by Mehmat Sinan Tara, President of ENKA, a reputed industrial and construction company of Turkey, which called on him at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat here on Thursday.

The CM said Pakistan was facing a serious crisis of energy which was leaving a negative impact on the economy. He said vast opportunities of investment in the energy sector existed in the Punjab and an autonomous Punjab Power Development Company had been established for the encouragement of investors and it was working on various projects.

Shahbaz said during his visit to China, an agreement of 120 megawatt hydel-power at Taunsa was signed with a leading Chinese company. He said that like those of Sindh and Balochistan, vast reserves of coal were also there in the Punjab and power could be generated by utilising the reserves. He said the Punjab government had also prepared a project of 200 megawatt power to be generated through coal in DG Khan for which an agreement had been made with the Balochistan government for purchasing the high quality coal. He said the Turkish company could also cooperate in the project.

The chief minister said that energy could also be generated through hydel and solar means in Punjab and added that 300 places had been identified for hydel-power on 28,000 km long irrigation channels in Punjab where small projects of 10 to 20 megawatt could be started whereas Bahawalpur and DG Khan divisions were most suitable for solar energy. He said the project of Lahore Ring Road was prepared in 1992 which had kept hanging later on. He said the Punjab government had completed the ëNorthern Loopí of the ring road and the project was an example of transparency and quality. He said the projects of “Southern Loop“ of Lahore Ring Road and Rawalpindi Ring Road had also been prepared while the the government wanted complete the projects by promoting commercial and public-private partnership.

Shahbaz Sharif said that the ENKA was a big and prominent company of Turkey with a vast experience in energy and infrastructure sectors. He asked the company to extend cooperation in power and infrastructure in Punjab and that he was ready to send a delegation from Punjab to Turkey. He said Pakistan could generate power at cheaper rates by utilising its own resources.

President ENKA Mehmat Sinan Tara said Turk people considered Pakistan as their second home. He said ENKA was a leading company of Turkey which was working on a number of projects in various countries and assured the CM that it would consider cooperation in power and infrastructure sectors in Punjab.

The Turkish delegation comprised Onder Yucer, Haluk Gercek, Mustafa Erguven, Seyfettin Engin Aydin and Selman Bender Aydin. Commissioner & Project Director Lahore Ring Road, Nadeem Hassan Asif, Chairman Punjab Power Development Company, Babar Nadeem and Vice-Chairman Punjab Investment Board, Rizwanullah Khan gave a detailed briefing on financial model of ëSouthern Loopí of Lahore Ring Road and investment in energy sectors.

Senior Advisor Zulfiqar Khosa, Chairman Lahore Transport Company Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan, Chairman Punjab Power Development Company, Vice-Chairman Punjab Investment Board, Secretary Wapda, Sector Incharge NLC, Commissioner Lahore and other concerned officers were also present.(Courtesy: The News)

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CHIEF Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has said that the Ashiana Housing Project would be a benchmark in the history of residential projects of the country where all the modern residential facilities would be available to the common man.

According to a handout issued on Saturday, he stated this during his visit to the under-construction Ashiana Housing Project at Saroba Attari.

Expressing satisfaction with the development work of the scheme, Shahbaz said that the project was meant for the poor and common man and no compromise would be made over its quality. He said the PML-N under the leadership of Mian Nawaz Sharif was implementing a comprehensive programme for the welfare of the masses. Utilisation of every penny of the public money was being ensured and all development projects were being completed transparently. Third party audit of Ashiana project would also be carried out, he added.

Chairman Punjab Land Development Company Sheikh Alauddin gave a detailed briefing with regard to pace of work on the project and said that after Lahore, final shape had been given to the Ashiana Housing Scheme projects in Faisalabad, Sargodha, Sahiwal and Jhelum and work on the schemes would start soon.

Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Secretary Information, Commissioner Lahore Division and other concerned officers were also present.

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New jobs for youth soon: CM

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has decided to constitute a committee within the next few days, which will make its recommendations for creation of job opportunities in the province and in the light of these recommendations, a course of action will be evolved and implemented speedily. Presiding over a meeting on Saturday, Shahbaz said unemployment was a big challenge for the Punjab government and it was working tirelessly to provide the youth with jobs. He said Pakistan could not be put on the road to progress without overcoming the problems of unemployment. He said the youth should be made self reliant by imparting vocational training to them.
He said the government was planning on a war footing to create new jobs, adding the private sector must also do its bit in this regard. The chief minister said imparting various skills to the young generation according to the needs of the market would help eliminate unemployment. He said if the youth were imparted vocation training, they could earn the country handsome foreign exchange by getting jobs abroad.
He said that Pakistanis were talented and there were a number of skilled men and women in villages who could be made self-reliant if their skills were polished up. He said the Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC), Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) and the Punjab Vocational Training Council (PVTC) have to move ahead and play their due role in eradicating unemployment. He directed the officials concerned to map out a solid strategy to train the youth in modern technological skills and to promote the cottage industry. He said women comprised half of the country’s population and they should not be left aside because they have a role to play in development.
He said eliminating unemployment was one of the government’s priorities and special measures would be taken in this regard in the next budget. He lauded the services of “Akhuwat”, a non government organization, for the ailing humanity and for elimination of unemployment. He invited Akhuwat and PSIC to evolve a common plan for elimination of unemployment. He said that a revolution could be brought in the country by preparing skilled manpower keeping in view the demands of the market Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Pervaiz Malik, Zakiya Shahnawaz, Planning & Development chairman, finance, Industries and social welfare secretaries, TEVTA chairman, Punjab Small Industries Corporation MD, Lahore commissioner and experts from private sector attended the meeting.
Earlier, Akhuwat Chief Executive Amjad Saqib while giving a briefing on efforts to create job opportunities said 30,000 new jobs could be created within a year under a special programme evolved for this purpose and the numbers could be increased gradually every year. He said that Akhuwat had distributed Rs 1.6 billion interest free loans among deserving persons in the province. (Courtesy: Pakistan Today)

Daanish schools to spur progress: CM

Lahore:Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that the establishment of Daanish Schools will open up new avenues of progress for the backward and far-flung areas as the students passing out from the schools, with their modern education and broader mental vision, will be able to play an effective role for a brighter future of the country.

He said that Aashiyana Housing Project had helped the poor fulfill their dream of having their own houses.

Aashiyana societies would have modern residential facilities just like the housing societies of the elite, he added.

He was talking to the assembly members from various districts as well as party leaders who met him here on Tuesday.

Later, the Chief Minister presided over a high level meeting regarding Daanish schools.

Police given 7 days to recover abductee: Shahbaz Sharif has ordered the Okara district police officer to recover Arshad Ali – who was abducted from Chak No. 2-D, Okara six month ago – within seven days and tracing his abductors.

During a meeting with the affected family here on Tuesday, the chief minister said that protection of life and property of people and provision of justice to the masses was the responsibility of police and no effort should be spared for the purpose.

He said that no society could progress without justice, adding that police stations should be made a source of provision of justice to the citizens. He said that cruelty and excesses would not be tolerated and police should be a symbol of terror for criminal elements. (Courtesy: The News)

Ashiana Housing Scheme 1st Draw:

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The Punjab Industrial Estates Development and Management Company (PIEDMC) has embarked upon a programme to set up a chain of industrial estates throughout the province and the first will be set up in Rahim Yar Khan.
According to a statement issued on Friday, PIEDMC has already acquired 455 acres of land for Rs240 million.

About 20,000 jobs will be created directly with the setting up of more than 300 medium and large industrial units.

CM reviews uplift schemes in meeting

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif presided over a high level meeting held to review the annual development programme, large cities, packages for various districts and implementation on Southern Punjab Development Programme at Chief Minister’s Secretariat, here today.

Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Senator Ishaq Dar, Provincial Ministers, Members National and Provincial Assemblies, Chief Secretary, Chairman Planning & Development Department, secretaries of various departments and divisional commissioners were also present in the meeting. The meeting reviewed in detail the progress on various mega development projects.

The Chief Minister directed that no stone be left unturned in achieving the development targets of current fiscal year and all energies be utilized for that purpose. He directed all divisional commissioners to hold meetings regularly for reviewing the pace of implementation on development projects and law and order situation and ensure participation of elected representatives in the meetings.

He urged that no administrative hurdle be allowed to be created in the development projects and in case of any obstacle, Chairman Planning & Development, in consultation with the concerned departments, should remove the same immediately.

He said that first three districts displaying excellent performance in timely and transparent completion of development projects would be encouraged and directed the Chief Secretary to devise a strategy for selection of the districts. He said that transparency in development projects was the hallmark of Punjab. Proper utilization of every single penny of public money and timely completion of development projects be ensured at all cost.

He said that such realistic projects be prepared for next financial year at the time of fixing of priorities as would be fully beneficial for the province and people could get maximum benefit from them.

He said that bringing the backward areas at par with the developed ones were the priorities of the government and mega development projects were being executed in eleven districts under Southern Punjab Development Programme (SPDP) for that purpose. He said that record funds had been allocated for the development of southern Punjab while development projects were being completed in those areas on priority basis.

He said that promotion of education was need of the hour for rapid development and Punjab government had taken revolutionary steps for improvement of that sector. A revolutionary project of Daanish schools had been launched for providing modern and quality education alongwith facilities to the people of far-flung and backward areas, he added.

He disclosed that six schools for male and female students had started working in Bahawalpur division whereas foundation stones of Daanish schools had also been laid in Dera Ghazi Khan, Mianwali and Attock which would soon be completed.

Rs 10b given to BoP to avoid bankruptcy: CM

Lahore: Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has said that the youth are the hope of the nation and after acquiring modern education, they will remove the stigma of extremism, poverty and ignorance from the face of the country.

He said that the recent events had stunned the whole nation and the youth were in a state of despondency. He said that young generation would face not only the challenges but also bring the country out of the quagmire of the problems and put it on the road to progress and development. He said that provision of scholarships by Khawaja Rafique Shaheed Foundation to the talented students was a noble gesture and the role of the foundation would be written in golden letters.

He was addressing 46 talented students of the flood affected districts of DG Khan, Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur at Chief Minister’s Secretariat here on Monday. The students were given scholarships by Khawaja Rafique Shaheed Foundation for continuing their academic activities.

In response to a question about economic condition of the province, he said that national resources were looted mercilessly in the past while the Bank of Punjab was robbed of seventy six billion rupees. He said that in order to save the bank from bankruptcy he gave a loan of Rs.10 billon to it.

Gujranwala Medical College: Shahbaz Sharif said on Monday that laxity would not be tolerated in the execution of welfare projects and asked the bureaucracy to ensure timely and transparent completion of uplift projects, removing all the hurdles in this regard.

Presiding over a meeting regarding the Gujranwala Medical College project here on Monday, the CM issued instructions for evolving a comprehensive monitoring system in the Planning & Development Department. He said the pace of progress of all the major development projects should be reviewed on a regular basis under the system. Expressing his indignation over the delay in the implementation of Gujranwala Medical College project, Shahbaz said the work on the entire project should be completed by June 15.

The CM said all-out resources were being utilised for the welfare of people and every penny of the public money was being spent in a transparent manner. He said that it was the responsibility of the administration and departments concerned to ensure implementation of projects and their timely completion. Earlier, the commissioner and district coordination officer Gujranwala gave a detailed briefing on the medical college project. It may be mentioned that classes had already been started in Gujranwala Medical College.

Member National Assembly Engineer Khurram Dastageer Khan, senior member Board of Revenue, secretary Health, commissioner and district coordination officer Gujranwala as well as principal Gujranwala Medical College were present.

conference: Shahbaz Sharif will inaugurate the second Star Farm Pakistan Suppliers Conference on “Improving Supply Chain Management of Agriculture and Livestock Products” which is jointly organised with Metro Cash & Carry and Agriculture Department today. The Punjab government, in collaboration with China, has launched the Star Farm Initiative to improve agricultural productivity, quality, marketability and revenues in the province. According to a spokesman for Agriculture Department, Star Farm Managing Director Hans Peter and International Affairs Metro Group Vice President Anton Kjnife will introduce business model of Star Farm. Malik Ahmad Ali Aulakh, agriculture minister, will chair the technical session.

The secretaries of agriculture and livestock will brief potential of both sectors in Punjab and progress made so far under Star Farm Initiative. The spokesman has said that Star Farm Initiative, previously implemented successfully in China and Vietnam, has been launched by the Punjab government in collaboration with Star Farm Consulting Company of China to modernize agriculture in Punjab.

wheat procurement: Shahbaz Sharif has directed the authorities concerned that interests of small cultivators should be safeguarded at any cost during wheat procurement campaign and the target of procurement in flood-hit areas should be increased for the

benefit of flood victims. He was presiding over a meeting to review the wheat procurement campaign here on Monday.

Shahbaz said that equitable distribution of gunny bags should be ensured without succumbing to the pressure of big landlords and influential persons. He said that it would not be tolerated that poor cultivators were not given gunny bags while excessive bags were issued to the influential landlords. He said the wheat procurement, distribution of gunny bags and wheat prices should be reviewed on a daily basis.

Earlier, Chief Secretary Nasir Mehmood Khan Khosa and Secretary Food Irfan Elahi gave a detailed briefing about wheat procurement, price of wheat and distribution of gunny bags in the province.

The meeting was informed that the process of wheat procurement was speedily in progress and 10,34,000 tonne wheat had been procured while gunny bags had been distributed for 1800,000 tonne and while distribution process of gunny bags would complete by May 31. The meeting was also given details of wheat procurement and distribution of gunny bags in all the divisions.

Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Provincial Ministers Malik Ahmad Ali Aulakh, Nadeem Kamran, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, Secretary Food and Secretary Agriculture were present. The meeting reviewed in detail wheat procurement, price of wheat and distribution of gunny bags.(Courtesy: The News)

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that credit for launching Ashiana Housing Project for the low-income people goes to the PML-N which has realized the dream of the widows, orphans and the poor to have their own houses.

He stated this during his visit to the under-construction Ashiana scheme at Saroba Attari here on Monday.

The chief minister said that after Lahore, the scope of the scheme would be extended to the whole province under a phased programme. He said no compromise would be made over the standard of construction work and he would personally supervise the project for the poor and the common man.

Expressing satisfaction over the design and standard of the houses in the first Aashiyana scheme, he said the pace of construction should be further accelerated.

He said that it was the first time in the 63 years’ history of the country that such a modern housing project had been launched for the poor.

He said that basic amenities on a par with the housing societies of the elite would be available in the scheme.

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif inaugurated Pindi Bhattian-Chiniot-Kamalpur Road and Chiniot-Sargodha-Khushab Road constructed at a cost of Rs.652 crore during his visit to Chiniot today. The Chief Minister inspected some portions of Pindi Bhattian-Chiniot Road to review the standard of construction work.

Addressing a public gathering in the lawn of Government Islamia College, the Chief Minister announced construction of District Headquarters Hospital at a cost of Rs. 50 crore, Tehsil headquarters hospitals in Lalian and Bhowana and setting up of Rescue-1122. He said that Aashiyana housing scheme for the poor, orphans and families of martyrs would also be started in Chiniot. He also announced construction of Chanab Nagar to Tarkhanawala Road, Wattoka to Dharkhanawala Road and Lalian to Thathibala Road in Tehsil Lalian.

Earlier, District Coordination Officer and District Police Officer Chiniot gave a briefing about ongoing and future development projects, law and order situation and steps for crime control in Chiniot.The Chief Minister directed the Commissioner to speed up implementation of development projects and evolve an effective strategy for the protection of the newly-constructed roads.The Chief Minister lauded completion of urban development, beautification and public welfare projects with community participation under self-help basis.

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480 homes (2 marla each) will be completed in the 3rd week of July...

CM sees no shortage of funds for projects

Lahore: CHIEF Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has said that the Punjab government, under the leadership of PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif, has taken a historic decision of rejecting charity from outsiders and the government will prove by implementing the decision that living nations can also survive by developing indigenous resources.

He said that such charity as might stigmatize the dignity of the country had been the desire of each and every Pakistani.

He said the nations could never become prosperous through foreign aid and it was the proof of the fact that Pakistan, despite having received billions of dollars in past 63 years in loans and foreign aid, failed to bring about a qualitative change in the life of a layman and only the elite benefited from it.

The CM was talking to the assembly members belonging to various districts here on Saturday. Elected representatives apprised the chief minister of the pace of development works and problems of the people of their respective areas.

Talking to assembly members, Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif said that getting rid of foreign aid was need of the hour for the real economic and political freedom and the historic decision, which was taken by the Punjab government in this regard, was the heart s voice of every Pakistani from Khyber to Karachi. He said that the historic decision of the Punjab government of rejecting the foreign aid would prove a first step towards restoration of the country s dignity and independence.

He said the Punjab government had already promoted austerity and set an example of saving Rs 6 billion in non-development expenditures. He said there would be no shortage of funds for the public welfare projects in the next financial year and special attention would be paid to education, health and clean drinking water projects.

Assembly Members paid rich tributes to the leadership of the PML-N and CM Shahbaz Sharif on the bold decision of renouncing foreign aid. They said that as per decision of the party, they would extend all possible cooperation to the Punjab government for promoting austerity and curtailing unnecessary expenses. (Courtesy: The News)

And finally some news on Kasur-Depalpur Road.....

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KASUR - The Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) has said the Kasur-Depalpur Road project is currently the largest road project of the Punjab government. In a press release, the FWO said it took full advantage of the local expertise, labor, materials and services, adding that this mega road project would bring tremendous benefits for the locals and people of other cities as well. It said the dual road would serve as an important link between Lahore and Multan via Kasur, Khudian and Depalpur. It further said the road would facilitate the business community to take milk, vegetables, fodder, sugar canes to other cities.

It added that after the completion of this project, the traveling time between Kasur and Depalupr and Kasur and Okara would decrease. It said besides boosting living standers of the local community, the project would also be very helpful for all those who come to Kasur or Raiwind to attend urs of Bulleh Shah and Inayat Qadri and Tableghi Ijtema after traveling a long distance. The release added that the project titled Rehabilitation of Kasur-Depalpur Road, initiated on January 31, 2009 and sponsored by the Government of Punjab's C&W Department, was being completed by the FWO. It said in phase one the length of road is 60 kilometers, width is 72 to 103 feet and it has two lanes.

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani inaugurated Musa Pak Shaheed bridge and performed ground breaking of Virtual University VU campus and Urban Water Supply Scheme here on Friday.The 600 metre long Musa Pak Shaheed bridge over river Sutlej was a lonstanding demand of people of the area.It was completed at a cost of Rs 1616 million and it is believed that it would reduce the travelling distance between Multan and Taranda Mohammad Panah by 40 kilometres.The four-lane bridge (dual carriageway) has a 4.5 km long approach road and is 18 kms from Jalkalpur Pirwala in the south.

The urban water supply scheme would be completed at a cost of Rs 109.372 million. It would provide clean drinking water to the people of an area where ground water is unfit for human consumption.

The scheme would benefit about 55000 people living in various urban settlements of Jalalpur Pirwala.Gilani also performed the ground breaking of campus of Virtual University in the city. The project would be completed at a cost of Rs 35 million. The VU campus would provide distance cum online learning facility to the students with the aim to improve their education and skills.

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Saturday laid the foundation-stone of Musa Pak Shaheed bridge in Multan’s tehsil Jalalpur Pirwala, that will reduce a 50 kilometre distance between Lahore and Karachi. The project is part of the series of ongoing development program by Prime Minister Gilani for the under-privileged areas in Southern Punjab.

The bridge with a 50-year life, will cost Rs 1.62 billion while the dual carriage way along the bridge will cost Rs 3 billion.

Prime Minister will also inaugurate the project of clean drinking water costing 100 million in the slums of Jalalpur Pirwala.

CM Shahbaz Visit Ashiana Housing Scheme Development Work:

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Punjab set to unveil Rs 653b budget

The Punjab government is ready to unveil Rs 653 billion annual budget for 2011-12 in a few days.

At least Rs 219 billion have been proposed for the development projects while another Rs 20 billion are likely to be earmarked for local governments in the province.

At least Rs 6.30 billion will be allocated for hospital medicines and provision of food in jails. Rs 5.2 will be allocated for a special package for health sector while the Punjab Education Foundation and Endowment Fund will be given Rs 8 billion.

At least Rs 7 billion are likely to earmarked for housing, livestock, and transport sectors, and Rs 4 billion for agriculture, energy, government buildings and highways.

The work to revise budget allocations has been started to increase salaries and pensions of the provincial government employees by 15 percent, costing an additional Rs 3 billion every month to the provincial exchequer.

^^ Its now Rs. 650 billion, don't know exact figures..

Punjab set to unveil Rs650bn budget

The Punjab government is set to unveil a Rs 650 billion budget for fiscal year 2011-2012 on June 10, which will reportedly feature no new taxes.

The Punjab Cabinet’s budgetary meeting on Tuesday also decided that in the next tax regime, houses of five marlas – which had been exempted from tax laws up till now – will be taxed in the coming year.

Further, new housing societies, clubs and schools will also be included in the tax net for the next budget.

The Punjab government maintains that increasing the excise tax on houses in posh areas of the city will result in greater resources in the new fiscal year budget.

Meanwhile, funds for dairy, livestock and agriculture have been increased in the next fiscal year.

With revenue stream strengthened, it is the development expenditure that has been a problem during the outgoing year for the government. Last year, the government only spent Rs. 100 billion out of Rs. 580 billion on development.

On one hand, the provincial government has been complaining about the non-availability of resources, while on the other it has failed to spend the amount earmarked in the budget for development.

Among the reasons cited are a lack of political will and capacity to spend the money that it has received.

Punjab spent more than Rs. 480 billion rupees on non-development expenditure, but only managed to spend Rs. 100 billion of the Rs. 193 billion set aside for development.

The ADP was first revised to Rs. 150 billion and out of this amount only Rs. 60 billion were spent by the end of April.

However, as in recent years, the last two months leading up to the budget have seen a spending spree jack up the ADP utilisation. This trend of financial mismanagement has been observed since 2008.

Former Punjab finance minister Tanvir Ashraf Kaira said that the situation is not much different in the health and education sectors, which are key development components directly linked to the public.

Out of the Rs. 23 billion earmarked for education, the government had only managed to spend 65 per cent of the reserved amount.

Out of the Rs. 21 billion set aside for health, the government spent only 70 per cent.

The Punjab government’s incapacity to spend and its weak political will has been exacerbated by the failure of all its subsidy schemes meant for the public. This includes the Sasti Roti scheme, Food Stamp scheme and Ramazan Bazaars.

Economists now fear that the fate of the Danish Schools and Aashiana Housing Scheme will also hit snags.

Further, new housing societies, clubs and schools will also be included in the tax net for the next budget.

The Punjab government maintains that increasing the excise tax on houses in posh areas of the city will result in greater resources in the new fiscal year budget.

Meanwhile, funds for dairy, livestock and agriculture have been increased in the next fiscal year.

In the cabinet meeting, Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman has been appointed as the new finance minister for Punjab as per a decision taken in a Punjab cabinet meeting. A notification has been issued in this regard.

Punjab eying Rs. 20.5 billion foreign money

Punjab is eying over Rs20 billion in foreign assistance to finance various projects next year, which is 163 per cent more than what the province received this year.

The latest revelation comes on the heel of the provincial government’s demand from the federation to allow it to borrow from international lenders, which has not been accepted due to serious financial consequences.

Official documents show that the Punjab government has estimated to receive Rs20.5 billion in foreign assistance in financial year 2011-12 against actual disbursements of Rs7.8 billion in the outgoing financial year.

The estimated amount is Rs12.8 billion or 163 per cent more than this year’s assistance. Out of Rs20.5 billion, the provincial government is estimating that it will receive Rs18.6 billion in loans and Rs1.9 billion in grants.

In May, Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif had denounced foreign aid, terming it an act amounting to compromising sovereignty of the country. He had announced that he would break the “begging bowl”.

Senator Pervaiz Rasheed, chief spokesman for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, defended his party’s decision to borrow money. “The Punjab government would not accept any loan or grant that is attached with political strings but it is open to all types of foreign assistance that is not linked with conditions,” he said.

A close look at the projects show that the Punjab government is accepting nominal assistance even for projects that otherwise could be managed domestically. The Punjab government would accept Rs5 million in grants from the European Union under the Access to Justice for Poor project. It is also expected to receive Rs14 million in grants from Australia for optimising canal and ground water management project.

Furthermore, Japan is to give Rs974 million for sewerage and drainage system and Lahore and Water and Sanitation Academy projects. The provincial government has also estimated to receive Rs900 million for Punjab Economic Opportunities Programme.

Loans
The Punjab government would take Rs2.5 billion in loans from the International Development Agency, the concessionary loan arm of the World Bank (WB), for Land Records Management and Information System Programme.

The WB’s commercial loan arm would also extend Rs3.5 billion – Rs2.3 billion for rehabilitation and modernisation of Islam head works and Rs1.5 billion for Punjab Municipal Services. Another multilateral donor, the Asian Development Bank would extend Rs6.2 billion in loans and a major chunk of Rs4.2 billion would go for Punjab Irrigated Agriculture Development project. For the outgoing fiscal year, the ADB had committed a total of Rs5.8 billion but gave only Rs2.2 billion.

For sustainable livelihood in Barani areas, Rs650 million has been committed by the ADB. For government efficiency programme, a Rs200 million installment would be released next year. For renewable energy development programme, a Rs870 million commitment is on the table.

The Punjab government would also take Rs3.5 billion loan from Japan. The money is sought for two projects – Lower Chenab System Rehabilitation project and improvement for irrigation system. The provincial government is eying Rs2.3 billion loan from France for water resources in Faisalabad and construction of waste water treatment plant in Lahore.

An amount of Rs180 million is to be obtained from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries for establishment of government institute of emerging technologies at Raiwind Road, Lahore.

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Elimination of illiteracy must for progress:CM

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that government is making sincere and determined efforts for the promotion of education in the province as the dream of progress and development cannot be realized without elimination of illiteracy and ignorance from the society. He said that the measures taken by the government for the uplift of education sector have started yielding positive results. He said that in addition to formal education, there is a need for apprising the youth of the latest trends as well.
He was addressing a meeting regarding education through television at Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Sunday. Member National Assembly, Saira Afzal Tarar, Members Provincial Assembly Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan, Maj (r) Abdur Rehman, Chairman Taskforce Raja Muhammad Anwar, Secretaries of Education and Information Departments, Managing Director Danish School System, Director General Public Relations and prominent educationists were present on the occasion.
Ms Rameeza Nizami gave a detailed briefing regarding Stand up 6 Educational Programme. She said that in addition to setting up IT labs in more than four thousand schools in the province, solid measures are also being taken for the provision of basic facilities in educational institutions, ensuring attendance and training of teachers, harmonizing the syllabus with the demands of the modern age. She said that the project of Danish Schools has been initiated for the provision of modern educational facilities in far-flung and backward areas and these centres of excellence will help polish the talent of students of remote areas to enable them to play an active role for the progress and prosperity of the country. He said that setting up of Punjab Educational Endowment Fund is a revolutionary step of the government for providing an opportunity to the poor but talented students to continue their studies.
The Chief Minister appreciated the idea of education through television given by Ms Rameeza Nizami and expressed the hope that it will help in the promotion of literacy rate.
He ordered setting up of a committee headed by Dr Zafar Iqbal Qureshi to review various aspects of this model and submit its report within 10 days.
The participants of the meeting also presented their proposals and suggestions regarding education through television. (Courtesy: The Nation)

does anyone know how much of 2011 development budget is allocated for Multan Road and Ring Road projects?

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Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday approved an additional fund of Rs one billion for the construction of Khushal Garh Bridge over Indus River.

Talking to a group of Parliamentarians, Prime Minister Gilani said his government accords priority to completion of communication linkages across the country for speedy transfer of goods and services, besides generating economic activity and creating job opportunities in the underdeveloped areas of the country.

500 houses of Aashiyana to be given in July

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said housing schemes with modern facilities have been launched for the poor and common people for the first time in the history of Pakistan, and the credit of launching Aashiyana housing project goes to the Pakistan Muslim League-N which has materialised the dream of low-income people of having their own roof. “Besides Lahore, work on Aashiyana housing schemes in Sargodha, Sahiwal, Faisalabad and Jhelum is going on speedily whereas these schemes will be started in 16 districts of the province during next financial year,” he mentioned, while addressing a meeting held with regard to Aashiyana housing scheme project here on Saturday.

Shahbaz Sharif also said transparency and quality in development projects were the hallmarks of the Punjab government, which had also been ensured in the Aashiyana housing scheme. He disclosed that hundred per cent verification of particulars of those applicants getting houses through balloting had been made so that only deserving people could get houses in these residential colonies, and profiteers and speculators should stay away from these schemes. He hoped that 500 houses would be completed and handed over to the lucky persons in the next month in the first Aashiyana housing scheme in the provincial metropolis.

5vtEN-5M-i8

1st half = Aashiyana Housing Scheme

Sharif brothers launch taxi scheme

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Pakistan Muslim Leabue-N Chief Nawaz Sharif along with Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif launched a taxi scheme for the province.

Talking to media, Nawaz Sharif said the government had failed in overcoming the problems of price hike and unemployment.

On the occasion, Shahbaz Sharif said although the yellow cab scheme would not eliminate unemployment, it would at least help decrease it to some extent and added that transparency would be ensured in the implementation of the scheme.

He maintained that the previous yellow tractors scheme was also implemented in a transparent manner. “Those who are being critical of the scheme are people who robbed the Bank of Punjab, NICL and Rental Power project,” he added.

Shahbaz Sharif, on the occasion, also took a test drive of a cab.

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^^

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Sharif brothers launch taxi scheme

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Pakistan Muslim Leabue-N Chief Nawaz Sharif along with Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif launched a taxi scheme for the province.

Talking to media, Nawaz Sharif said the government had failed in overcoming the problems of price hike and unemployment.

On the occasion, Shahbaz Sharif said although the yellow cab scheme would not eliminate unemployment, it would at least help decrease it to some extent and added that transparency would be ensured in the implementation of the scheme.

He maintained that the previous yellow tractors scheme was also implemented in a transparent manner. “Those who are being critical of the scheme are people who robbed the Bank of Punjab, NICL and Rental Power project,” he added.

Shahbaz Sharif, on the occasion, also took a test drive of a cab.

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That's a yellow cab? And only in Pakistan can the same government use the same scam twice. Shameful.

how's it a scam?? do the loans default or what?? :weird:

Aashiyana Scheme to be launched in 16 districts

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said the dream of worker, farmer, widow, orphan and a common man of having his own house has been materialised with the launching of Aashiyana Housing Project for the first time in the 63 years’ history of the country and its credit goes to Pakistan Muslim League-N.

“Work on Aashiyana Housing Schemes in Lahore, Jhelum, Sahiwal, Faisalabad and Sargodha is going on speedily whereas these schemes will be started in 16 other districts this year.

Although the schemes are for the common and poor Pakistanis yet the residential facilities in these schemes would be better than the societies of the rich people and these schemes are an important step towards transforming the country in accordance with the ideals of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal,” said Shahbaz Sharif, adding that 500 houses would be completed in the under-construction Aashiyana Housing Project in Lahore and handed over to the lucky people this month.

He also said 85 acres additional land had been acquired for the first Aashiyana housing scheme at Saroba Atari where 1500 more houses would be built. “Similarly, the land has been identified for the second Aashiyana housing scheme in Lahore where a new city consisting of 15000 houses will be established,” he added.

He was talking to mediamen on the occasion of visiting Aashiyana Housing Project Saroba Atari here on Friday.

Aashiyanas in 16 more districts

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that though modern residential colonies had been set up for the elite and senior officers during the 63 years history of Pakistan but it is the first time that Punjab government has launched Aashiyana Housing Scheme for the poor such as labourers, cart-pushers, cultivators, widows, orphans and the common man and thereby realized their dream of having their own house.

He said that work was in progress expeditiously on Aashiyana Housing Schemes in Lahore, Jhelum, Sahiwal, Faisalabad and Sargodha while such housing schemes will also be launched in 16 more districts this year for which land has been identified. He said that the scope of this project will be extended to 36 districts of the province under a phased programme.

He was addressing a meeting on the occasion of his visit to the first under-construction Aashiyana Housing Project at Saroba Atari in the provincial metropolis and while talking to media-men on Sunday.

Chairman Punjab Land Development Company and Member Provincial Assembly Sheikh Allauddin, elected representatives, Chairman Planning & Development, Additional Chief Secretary, Secretary Communication & Works, Director General Punjab Horticulture Authority as well as Commissioner and District Coordination Officer Lahore were present on the occasion.

Shahbaz said that Aashiyana Housing Schemes were meant for those who had rendered sacrifices for Pakistan, played an important role for the development of the country and earning their livelihood through honest means, therefore, he was personally supervising these schemes. He said that all amenities as were available in the residential colonies of the elite and senior officers will be provided in Aashiyana Housing Schemes.

He said that work will soon be started on the second Aashiyana Housing Scheme in Lahore and the project of such schemes in 16 other districts of the province. He said in spite of the problems created by monsoon, the work is speedily in progress on Aashiyana housing project in the provincial metropolis and 500 houses will soon be completed and handed over to their lucky owners.

The chief minister further said that the project of construction of schools in Aashiyana Housing Schemes should be started immediately for the benefit of children of the residents. He said that arrangements should also be made for launching bus service for providing transport facility to residents of the scheme. He said that a comprehensive system should be evolved for providing health, education and other facilities to the dwellers of Aashiyana Housing Scheme without interference of government departments.

He said that a project management unit should be set up for this purpose which will be responsible for the provision and maintenance of basic amenities. He directed that a detailed briefing be given to him in this regard during his next visit.

In reply to a question of media-men, the CM said that media had the right to pinpoint the faults and shortcoming in the society and putting curbs on media was not justified. However, he said, while highlighting shortcomings media should also give publicity to the positive activities.

Later, the CM laid the foundation stone of a mosque in Aashiyana Housing Scheme and also planted a sapling. He also inspected under- construction houses. Earlier, the Chief Minister reviewed the construction work of the link road of Aashiyana Housing Scheme and issued instructions for its early completion as well as undertaking tree plantation on both sides of the road.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that state-of-the-art transplant centre would be set up in the provincial metropolis and not only people of the province but throughout the country will benefit from it. He also constituted a steering committee headed by him which will take measures for early completion of the project.

He was presiding over a high level meeting to review the progress of health projects in Lahore and other parts of the province, here on Monday. Chairman Planning & Development, Secretaries Health and Finance also attended the meeting.

Addressing the meeting, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that provision of quality medical facilities to the masses is one of the priorities of the government and solid steps have been taken for improvement of this sector. He directed that a mega plan of health be prepared for Lahore and this plan should also be implemented in other districts of the province so that provision of basic medical facilities to the masses could be ensured at all cost. He said that mobile health units have been imported for provision of modern medical facilities to the people of far flung areas of the province and six mobile units have also started working in backward areas.

He disclosed that 50 mobile health units are being imported this year and these units would be provided in every tehsil. He said that the company providing these mobile health units will be responsible for their maintenance. He directed that third party audit should also be got conducted for reviewing the performance of these mobile units.

He directed to start the project of construction of hospital consisting of 300 beds in Shahdara at the earliest and added that best design be selected for this project. He disclosed that Said Mitha hospital has been completed and will be inaugurated within next few days. He directed to fill in all vacancies of doctors and paramedical staff in this hospital and added that cleanliness system of this hospital be outsourced and a comprehensive strategy be evolved in this regard.

He also directed early starting of work on the project of a hospital consisting of 40 beds in Lal Quarter Saman Abad, provision of CT scan in Said Mitha Hospital and MRI machine in Mian Nawaz Sharif Hospital Yakki Gate. He said that such a system be evolved in the hospitals under which companies providing these modern machines should be responsible for their functioning so that the trend of making these machines out of order with the connivance be eliminated in the hospitals.

He also directed to release funds for Mian Mir Hospital and complete this hospital within next two to three months. He directed to upgrade Mazang Hospital to 50 beds and state of the art mother and child healthcare facilities be provided in this hospital. He disclosed that prime location has been selected for transplant centre and facilities of transplantation of kidney and liver would be available to the masses in this centre.He said that four medical colleges are being set up this year in the province and these projects would also be completed speedily. He directed Secretary Health to arrange a briefing at the earliest with regard to health policy and priorities regarding provision of medical facilities to the masses throughout the province.

Earlier, Secretary Health Jehanzeb Khan gave a detailed briefing regarding improvement of health sector, import of mobile health units and various health projects in Lahore.

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The Punjab cabinet on Thursday formally approved the Yellow Cab Scheme. Under the Scheme, 20,000 vehicles will be distributed among jobless youth. Forty per cent of these have been allocated for Southern Punjab.

Computerised balloting for the distribution of vehicles will be held in the presence of news media.

The cabinet also accorded approval to a draft bill for an amendment in Section 17(4) of the Government Servants Housing Foundation Act, 2004.
The Punjab Information Technology Board chairman gave a detailed briefing regarding websites of various departments for the promotion of e-government in the province.

Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister Shabaz Sharif said that the government was undertaking a comprehensive programme for the elimination of poverty and unemployment from the province.

He said that the Yellow Cab Scheme would not only help reduce unemployment but will also promote local industry and provide better transport facilities.

Sharif said that under the scheme, 2,500 vehicles will be distributed among the winners of the draw every month for eight months. He said that people having intermediate or equivalent academic qualification will be eligible to apply for the scheme.

Application forms will be available from all branches of the Bank of Punjab as well as the website of the Transport Department and the Bank of Punjab. Successful applicants will have to make a 20 per cent down payment at the time of delivery. The remaining amount is to be paid in monthly installments. A low-markup loan facility at will be offered by the Bank of Punjab.

He said the Akhuwat Foundation representatives will be included in committees formed for the scrutiny of the particulars of successful applicants. Revenue staff like patwaris and tehsildars will have no role in the verification process.

The chief minister said that e-government was the need of the hour for a prompt solution of people’s problems and a comprehensive strategy had been adopted for this purpose.

He said the Punjab Police website should be developed along such lines that it should be helpful in redressing the grievances of the common man, monitoring efficiency of police stations and bringing about a positive change in police culture. He directed that a comprehensive plan be evolved for the website in consultation with the law minister, the law secretary and the inspector general of police and presented in the next cabinet meeting. He said that redressing the grievances of the people and providing them justice was the responsibility of the government and no effort should be spared in this regard.

Finance Secretary Tariq Bajwa said that 16,000 Suzuki Mehrans and 4,000 Suzuki Bolans will be distributed under the Yellow Cab Scheme. An advertisement will be published in newspapers on July 15 regarding details of the Scheme after which applications will be received.

The distribution of vehicles will start from the day after Eid from Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rawalpindi. He said that special number plates will be issued for Yellow Cabs.

These will carry the name of the district. Both men and women will be eligible under the scheme. Punjab Information Technology Board chairman Dr Javed Ghani informed the cabinet about the website of the Chief Minister’s Secretariat and the Punjab Police and the measures taken for the promotion of e-government.

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Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said Ashiana Housing Project is for the poor, widows, workers, farmers and the common man where facilities than those of residential schemes for the elite are being provided.

He said the scheme had been launched to materialise the dream of the poor of having their own house and its credit went to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. He said besides Lahore, work on the project of Ashiana schemes was also going on speedily in Jhelum, Sahiwal, Faisalabad and Sargodha whereas these schemes would be started in 16 more districts in the current year and their scope would be extended throughout the province under a phased programme.

The chief minister said that DCOs and divisional commissioners concerned of the 16 other districts where the scheme is being launched of the concerned districts should give him a detailed briefing regarding the projects at the earliest.

He said transparent utilization of every single penny of the public money was being ensured in Ashiana schemes and other projects and ordered a third party validation system for the project, asking Nespak to improve its performance. He said that there should be no interference of “Baboos” in the housing project and the work should be completely outsourced.

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holly crap.. they are working really fast on this!!

^^ Yep, 500 houses are about to complete...

The News reported that the Board of Directors of the Punjab Industrial Estates has approved the launch of new development projects worth PKR 1.25 billion during the current fiscal.

Mr S M Tanveer chairman of Punjab Industrial Estates Development and Management Company said that “The new projects include three industrial estates at Vehari, Rahim Yar Khan and Bhalwal in the southern Punjab.”

Mr Tanveer said that the PIE BOD has decided that Halal Parks dedicated areas for the production of certified halal products would be integral of all these estates where quality livestock was abundantly available. The PIE board has also allocated a special fund for upgrading the Multan Industrial Estate.

He said that a pharmaceutical laboratory of international standard for the inspection of drugs and for certification and construction of a commercial complex at Sundar Industrial Estate was also part of the new development projects of PIEDMC.

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif gave a detailed briefing to PML-N chief Muhammad Nawaz Sharif about the revival of natural beauty of Murree, provision of civic and tourist facilities and ongoing development projects at a meeting in the hill station Tuesday.

Nawaz Sharif said the previous government ruined the natural beauty of tourist spots in Murree and paid no attention to its development. He commended Shahbaz Sharif’s efforts for provision of tourist facilities, restoration of scenic beauty and ongoing projects of public welfare in Murree.

Shahbaz Sharif said public betterment and early completion of development schemes in Murree like other parts of the province was his top priority. He added that natural environment and beauty of the tourist spot was destroyed by illegal constructions in the former regime. He added that multi-storey buildings of plazas and hotels were constructed haphazardly while illegal constructions were permitted for minting money. He observed that the former government did not heed to the maintenance of roads, improvement of parks, provision of tourist facilities and other projects for beautification of Murree executed by the PML-N in its previous tenure due to which the roads and parks of the hill station suffered heavy damage.

“Those responsible for destroying the natural beauty will be taken to task,” he promised. Shahbaz Sharif mentioned that repair and reconstruction of nine important roads of Murree had been completed while Old Murree Road from Satrameel had also been repaired. “A weighbridge will be constructed at Satrameel on Old Murree Road for weighing load on trucks,” he said.

The chief minister directed that the steering committee be set up on development projects in Murree to search new parking places to attract tourist.He said the tourists and visitors could be brought through the proposed projects of cable car, soft-wheel train and coasters for making Murree vehicle-free.

The CM said long-term planning would be made for the provision of tourist and civic amenities in the area and the master plan in this regard would be finalised soon. He said a consolidated mechanism would also be evolved for solid waste management and cleanliness. He directed the tehsil administration and other departments concerned to ensure cleanliness within a week.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Raja Ashfaq Sarwar, Commissioner Rawalpindi Zahid Saeed and other officials informed the meeting about the water supply project, restoration of wildlife park and other proposed projects. The CM was informed that officials of TMA, who approved illegal building plans and indulged in corruption, had been removed from service after completion of formalities.

Lahore to get the lion’s share in Yellow Cabs

Out of all Punjab districts, Lahore district will get the largest (1670) while Hafizabad district the lowest number of vehicles (196 only) in the Yellow Cab Scheme.

Applicants from D G Khan, Rawalpindi and Multan districts will obtain their taxies in the first phase likely to start in September.

It has been decided that one district each will be selected every month from south, central and north Punjab for distribution of the cabs.

The Suzuki Company will deliver 20,000 vehicles in eight equal monthly delivery consignments of 2,500 vehicles.

The role of Bank of Punjab (BOP) in the Yellow Cab Scheme is yet to be decided, The News has learnt.

The Suzuki Mehran will cost around Rs 467,000 and Suzuki Bolan almost Rs 655,000 as compulsory insurance and tracker cost is added to the applicant price. The company has offered Rs 447,000 for Suzuki Mehran and Rs 526,000 for Suzuki Bolan.

According to various newspaper advertisements, the Punjab government will pay the mark-up on the taxi itself. It is yet to be decided whether the BOP will finance the scheme and government save Rs 4.5 billion allocated money for the scheme in budget 2011-12, or the government itself pay total cost of vehicles to the Company i.e. over Rs 8 billion.

Sources privy to the development said if the insurance and tracker facilities were made optional to the applicant, it would drastically cut down the additional cost of vehicle and bring it down to over Rs 70,000.

They said strict fare regulation was also crucial to make the scheme a success, adding if the cab-holders overcharged the fare, the scheme could flop.

According to the sources, the meeting proposed asking the company to install meters in the taxi and latter strictly monitor metered charging through traffic department.

The other option was to issue standard fare per kilometer to make the scheme a success. It was decided that uniform per kilometer fare would be applicable across the province.

They said the Punjab government had also asked the Excise and Taxation Department to make special number plates and create special serial of registration numbers for the Yellow Cab Scheme vehicles to curb their private use.

It was also decided that all applications would collected in Lahore for scrutiny after completion of application process. After that, transparent balloting would be held at divisional level. Successful applicants will be given fifteen days to complete and process their case, after which they would be delivered the van.

The district wise break-up of vehicles’ quota is: Rawalpindi 831, Attock 299, Chakwal 249, Jhelum 217, Sargodha 610, Khushab 209, Mianwali 251, Bhakkar 259, Faisalabad 1310, Chiniot 221, Jhang 440, T T Singh 377, Gujranwala 847, Hafizabad 196, Gujrat 481, Mandi Bahuddin 263, Sialkot 654, Narowal 289, Lahore 1670, Sheikhupura 555, Nankana Sahib 235, Kasur 580, Sahiwal 430, Okara 534, Pakapatan 310, Multan 1038, Lodhran 391, Khanewal 671, Vehari 694, D G Khan 579, Rajanpur 387, Muzaffargarh 934, Layyah 387, Bahawalpur 838, Bahawalnagar 666 and Rahimyar Khan 1094.

Thought the quota is based on population basis, 11 districts of the south Punjab will get 20 per cent extra vehicles than population share.

I don't care what critics say about this scheme but I am sure this is certainly going to generate a lot of economic activity in the provenience which we need badly at the moment

I don't care what critics say about this scheme but I am sure this is certainly going to generate a lot of economic activity in the provenience which we need badly at the moment

Bolan is 100% good , it's most of the time used for business, deliveries etc... it's rarely used as a commuter/personal vehicle. Mehran ... can't say about that , I think Govt. should increase the number of Bolan and decrease Mehran as chances of abuse is very high in later.

I don't care what critics say about this scheme but I am sure this is certainly going to generate a lot of economic activity in the provenience which we need badly at the moment
Economic activity because of cabs. How?

This Yellow Cab Scheme looks more like a huge scam to me. Everyone I've met so far has been criticizing it. "Yaar logon ke paas rickshaw mein bethne ke paisay nahi, tum taxiyan bhi chalwa do!"

Fair analysis of Yellow Cab Scheme:

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You don't need an analysis to figure out how this is the most retarded scheme ever in history. And screw analysis, we have the last scheme to figure out how bad it was. And then 1000 cabs in FAisalabad. I am a Faisalabadi and I can tell you that there's at best a market for about 5 cabs in there.

Cold response to Yellow Cabs; date extended

THE Punjab government has decided to extend the last date to apply for the Yellow Cabs Scheme for another fifteen days because of the poor response the scheme has received from the public, sources told The News.

The sources said a number of major issues about the scheme were still undecided as it was launched half cooked owing to some political pressures. They termed it one reason why the scheme had failed to attract the applicants from the masses.

According to the sources, nearly 2,000 applications had so far been received by the Bank of Punjab against a total number of 20,000 vehicles allocated under the schemes.

The 20 per cent down payment – which is about Rs 100,000 – as the first installment is also a huge amount for a jobless person to arrange. While compulsory tracking, insurance of vehicle and driver increase add about Rs 100,000 to the original company price.

One of the complaints received by the government is that the application form is too complicated to fill by a person with average education. Apart from that, the form also carries a number of conditions which people find hard to fulfill – such as possession of one-year-old driving licence, two guarantors with a long list of their particulars like bank account, CNIC, details of their assets and other documents which should be attested by a gazetted officer, etc.

Interestingly, the Bank of Punjab officials are not providing any guidance or help to the applicants in filling the application form, which is becoming one of the major problems for the applicants, the sources said.

One of the key decisions still required to be taken is about the ownership of the vehicles. It is still to be decided who, the Punjab government or the Bank of Punjab, should claim the ownership of the vehicles. According to the sources, the indecision in this regard is making the BoP officials give a cold shoulder to the Yellow Cab Scheme.

The Punjab government has allocated an amount of eight billion rupees for the scheme, making it a potential claimer of the ownership of the vehicles. Whereas, the application form designed by the BoP is in line with the guidelines of the State Bank of Pakistan as specified for the commercial banks for providing loan services to the general clients.

The application forms contain a number of questions people find very difficult to answer.

For example, the applicant is asked to mention the route of their operation inside the given town or city, which is something very difficult to be answered by a cab driver. Not only that, there are many columns asking some very illogical questions from the applicants - such as providing details of ‘daily average no of trips’; average fare per trip; average distance per trip; number of working days per month; petrol price; mileage per litre; average cost of petrol per kilo meter; average daily maintenance expenses; expected income per day; and average direct expense per day.

When contacted, Yellow Cab Scheme head MPA Sheikh Aloadin told The News that the conditions were likely to be relaxed and the chief minister had been informed about difficulties facing the applicants. He said that education criterion was likely to be brought down to metric. The one-year driving license condition could also be relaxed, he said, adding that the CM had decided to extend the deadline of the application date.

An official of BoP also confirmed that ownership of scheme was yet to decide by the government. He said they had devised the forms under the guidelines of SBP in order to protect them from any punitive action taken by the central bank against them.

Rights and wrongs: Fate of Ashiana housing hangs in the balance

http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/225357-Housing-1312575151-666-640x480.jpg

The fate of Punjab government’s housing project for low-income people is still hanging in the balance as the Supreme Court’s Thursday order has left the dispute on use of trust land unresolved.

The SC did not vacate a stay order against the transfer of land to the Punjab Land Development Company (PLDC) for the construction of the housing scheme but it allowed the government to continue construction ‘at its own risk’.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a provincial government official said the transfer was in violation of Sections 16 and 17 of the Punjab Waqf Properties Ordinance of 1979. Section 17 states that “a Waqf property shall be used for the purpose for which it is dedicated or has been used or for any purpose recognised by Islam as religious, pious or charitable”.

The Punjab government launched the Ashiana housing project for low income homeless people in January and set up the PLDC to implement it. The plan was to offer subsidised housing to individuals with monthly incomes of less than Rs20,000.

The Revenue Department selected 712 kanals farm and at Saropa Attari on Ferozepur Road owned by the Auqaf and Religious Affairs Department for the scheme in Lahore. The land was a Waqf (trust) property attached to the shrine of Shah Noor Saropa Attari.

The Punjab government provided agriculture land of the same worth to the Auqaf Department at Ocha Ladhay near Raiwind in exchange for the Saroopa Attari land, but this is also illegal as Waqf land cannot be transferred or exchanged and its status cannot be changed, the official said.

PLDC Chairman Sheikh Alauddin denied that there was any anomaly in the transfer of land owned by the Auqaf and Religious Affairs Department or that it violated Sections 16 and 17 of the ordinance. The ordinance allows the use of Waqf land for this scheme, which was meant for poor people, he said.
He said that the exchange of land had been challenged in the Supreme Court, but on Thursday it had allowed the government to continue construction. He said 600 housing units would be handed over to the homeless after Eidul Fitr.
The Ashiana housing scheme offers 3-marla homes for Rs840,000 and 5-marla homes for Rs1,190,000, at monthly instalments of Rs4,500 and Rs7,500, respectively. Only individuals with a monthly income of less than Rs20,000 can apply. Interested buyers must fill out a form provided by the PLDC and submit it with a processing fee of Rs890 at the Bank of Punjab. The buyers are then selected in a draw.

In May, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif inaugurated the construction of 3,000 housing units. Work on 600 units has been completed and 21,000 applicants included in the draw to decide who will get the houses.

Asked to interpret the Supreme Court order of Thursday, advocate Muhammad Anwer Shaheen said contempt proceedings could no longer be initiated against the government for violation of the stay order. However, he said if the apex court’s final verdict was in favour of the petitioner, the provincial government would not be eligible for compensation for the construction it had undertaken. The site along with the houses built on it would then be handed over to the petitioner.

Ashiana Housing Scheme Development Work Delayed:

5KOnfUKBKsI

Faisalabad getting high rise http://express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110810/Sub_Images/1101307186-1.jpg

Anyone supporting the yellow cab scheme just needs to go out and see how many of those Daewoo and Hyundai are running as taxis and how many as private cars.

Why should my tax be used to help some politicians get kick backs in return for more business for paksuzuki, some insurance and tracking company?

Anyone supporting the yellow cab scheme just needs to go out and see how many of those Daewoo and Hyundai are running as taxis and how many as private cars.

Why should my tax be used to help some politicians get kick backs in return for more business for paksuzuki, some insurance and tracking company?

i disagree with above and with najam sethi. here are my points.

1. go to small towns and smaller cities. and see the consumption of chitti corola (white XLI) being used as a rent a car. same goes for suzuki bolan which is known as "carry" in layman terms.

2. the down payment is just 100 K. the goverment is paying the interest. whats up anyones *** for that matter if some poor guy is getting a vehicle on best installements terms.

3. any one look at the cab situation in islo/rwp. i think they are a success . there are no rickshaws here.

4. the point is that we need to end the pigs known as rickshaws. if you know what i mean. i dont have to explain why we should annihilate them.

about najam sethi,

1. he is biased. he is technically shrewed. you will never hear him talk against zardari. rather he subliminally supports zardari.

2. some one asked about the incompetant underaged "khar". he smiled back and said. if every one us happy whats the deal of discussing her. what i mean is that he is biased.

3. najam sethi will not name the people who are corrupt like "kamran khan". he just speculates. and he speculates wrong.

i disagree with above and with najam sethi. here are my points.

1. go to small towns and smaller cities. and see the consumption of chitti corola (white XLI) being used as a rent a car. same goes for suzuki bolan which is known as "carry" in layman terms.

2. the down payment is just 100 K. the goverment is paying the interest. whats up anyones *** for that matter if some poor guy is getting a vehicle on best installements terms.

3. any one look at the cab situation in islo/rwp. i think they are a success . there are no rickshaws here.

4. the point is that we need to end the pigs known as rickshaws. if you know what i mean. i dont have to explain why we should annihilate them.

about najam sethi,

1. he is biased. he is technically shrewed. you will never hear him talk against zardari. rather he subliminally supports zardari.

2. some one asked about the incompetant underaged "khar". he smiled back and said. if every one us happy whats the deal of discussing her. what i mean is that he is biased.

3. najam sethi will not name the people who are corrupt like "kamran khan". he just speculates. and he speculates wrong.

No you are wrong, firstly people who rent cars don't need to use cabs, they already have the money to rent.

Secondly all of this easy installment plan means shit when the common man doesn't even have the money for basic necessities. It's like the government offering incentives to build something but there's either no demand or no money after that to keep it running.

And lastly, I don't watch Najam Sethi everyday but when I do he's mostly criticizing the Z-Man than anything.

The point is, at the end of the day this is a corrupt, stupid, idiotic scheme that will benefit no common man, and you need to open your eyes and understand that.

i disagree with above and with najam sethi. here are my points.

1. go to small towns and smaller cities. and see the consumption of chitti corola (white XLI) being used as a rent a car. same goes for suzuki bolan which is known as "carry" in layman terms.

2. the down payment is just 100 K. the goverment is paying the interest. whats up anyones *** for that matter if some poor guy is getting a vehicle on best installements terms.

3. any one look at the cab situation in islo/rwp. i think they are a success . there are no rickshaws here.

4. the point is that we need to end the pigs known as rickshaws. if you know what i mean. i dont have to explain why we should annihilate them.


you may or may not agree with me, but atleast give me relevant reply. Your reply does not answer the questions I raised.

Who many of those Daewoo and Hyundai are being run as taxis? What makes you think the current Mehran's wont be repainted and used for personal use or sold?

Govt pays interest...what is the govt and where does it gets its money from? From your and my taxes.

And you're naive if you think solving transport issues or providing livelihood has anything to do with this. Again what transportation has those daewoo solved? or who currently earns his/her livelyhood from Hyndai?

This is just one big scam and nothing else.

There are dozens of ways to provide livelihood and solve transportation problem that are better and more cost effective..but may be do not provide enough kickbacks for those involved.

Who many of those Daewoo and Hyundai are being run as taxis? What makes you think the current Mehran's wont be repainted and used for personal use or sold?

because 50 percent of taxis were given to gov officials who then later repaint them or sold them them third party. more over, the amont of sedans in pakistan was too less at that time. we cant compare 1991 with 2001 :)

Govt pays interest...what is the govt and where does it gets its money from? From your and my taxes.

yes, we pay taxes to build roads, to run legitimate welfare and we make sure that education in gov sector remains cheap as hell. whats wrong with a few bucks for a program that can change the transport scenario.

And you're naive if you think solving transport issues or providing livelihood has anything to do with this. Again what transportation has those daewoo solved? or who currently earns his/her livelyhood from Hyndai?

hundai and daewoo have stakeholders sitting abroad. the stake holders of the yellow cab will be the poor one owning the cab. every thing will go in his pocket. :)

This is just one big scam and nothing else.

people always criticize "sasti roti" and yellow cab by an excuse of week financial calculation on governments part. i say, people do get something out of both these programmes. in both the programs, the poor really get paid. all other programs , e.g BB income program are the reall scams with the budget as huge as a thousand times higher then that of pitty yellow cab or sasti roti. same goes for PIA (annual loss 1000 corore) and railways.

i disagree with above and with najam sethi. here are my points.

1. go to small towns and smaller cities. and see the consumption of chitti corola (white XLI) being used as a rent a car. same goes for suzuki bolan which is known as "carry" in layman terms.

2. the down payment is just 100 K. the goverment is paying the interest. whats up anyones *** for that matter if some poor guy is getting a vehicle on best installements terms.

3. any one look at the cab situation in islo/rwp. i think they are a success . there are no rickshaws here.

4. the point is that we need to end the pigs known as rickshaws. if you know what i mean. i dont have to explain why we should annihilate them.

about najam sethi,

1. he is biased. he is technically shrewed. you will never hear him talk against zardari. rather he subliminally supports zardari.

2. some one asked about the incompetant underaged "khar". he smiled back and said. if every one us happy whats the deal of discussing her. what i mean is that he is biased.

3. najam sethi will not name the people who are corrupt like "kamran khan". he just speculates. and he speculates wrong.
What a worthless post. You need about a few grams of brain to know figure out how bad this scheme is, EVEN ASSUMING THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS THE BEST INTERESTS AT HEART.

The points you raised mean you have no idea what you're talking about. Let's start with this: Do you have any idea what happened in 1991?

What a worthless post. You need about a few grams of brain to know figure out how bad this scheme is, EVEN ASSUMING THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS THE BEST INTERESTS AT HEART.

The points you raised mean you have no idea what you're talking about. Let's start with this: Do you have any idea what happened in 1991?

i could be wrong. lets see :) and the same space which you used for recommending me could have been used for filling in the worthy fact from your highness.

i could be wrong. lets see :) and the same space which you used for recommending me could have been used for filling in the worthy fact from your highness.
Here's a fact: look up what happened in 1991...

because 50 percent of taxis were given to gov officials who then later repaint them or sold them them third party. more over, the amont of sedans in pakistan was too less at that time. we cant compare 1991 with 2001 :)
And what makes you think that this time, it wont be greater than 50% that will be given to govt officials? You yourself have agreed that the scheme in 1991 was a scam...so why try another scam? let the daku-e-ala first pay for his earlier crimes. It IS a crime if those taxis were given to govt officials who later repainted/sold them.


yes, we pay taxes to build roads, to run legitimate welfare and we make sure that education in gov sector remains cheap as hell. whats wrong with a few bucks for a program that can change the transport scenario.

No transport scenario is going to be changed here...just the chosen few will mint money. You want to change transport scenario, introduce Mass transit bus system, or right rail.


hundai and daewoo have stakeholders sitting abroad. the stake holders of the yellow cab will be the poor one owning the cab. every thing will go in his pocket. :)

Really? I never knew that people who bought Daewoo and Hyundai are sitting abroad. Maybe you should go out more often. Both the Daewoo and Hyundai cars are seen on Pakistani roads not abroad. They were also declared "poor people" when those cars were being distributed.


people always criticize "sasti roti" and yellow cab by an excuse of week financial calculation on governments part. i say, people do get something out of both these programmes. in both the programs, the poor really get paid. all other programs , e.g BB income program are the reall scams with the budget as huge as a thousand times higher then that of pitty yellow cab or sasti roti. same goes for PIA (annual loss 1000 corore) and railways.

So just because there are 5 scams already doesn't justify adding another one. You sound like that Jatoi guy who said "ab humari bari hai, corruption hamara haq hai".

Btw, you wont find any support for the BBISP or PIA(aka JIA or Jiyalas International Airlines) or PR here either.

1991 was not a scam bhai. the scheme was toppled by the next goverment....,

with daewoo i thought you talking about daewoo bus service :).

imagine the yellow cab scheme continues for 5 years down the line?? what do you simulate?? any one living in pakistan knows how hard it is to buy and maintain a decent car. you want to take a rickshaw every time you get offboard the allama iqbal terminal??

Folks, i respect the views of both of you, however lets keep this forum / thread limited to sharing the knowledge on progress & updates. Can you please take this discussion elsewhere ?

1991 was not a scam bhai. the scheme was toppled by the next goverment....,

with daewoo i thought you talking about daewoo bus service :).

imagine the yellow cab scheme continues for 5 years down the line?? what do you simulate?? any one living in pakistan knows how hard it is to buy and maintain a decent car. you want to take a rickshaw every time you get offboard the allama iqbal terminal??
Why imagine something so horrible? Also, there're always taxis at Lahore Airport.

People forget this that Daewoo was a major stake holder and investor for M2 and I believe they still are (correct me if i'm worng?) - The yellow scheme was part of a larger deal where Daewoo was awarded many contracts which got us M2 as well which we praise and use everyday.

No. The yellow cab scheme had nothing to do with Daewoo. The first taxis were Hyundai Excels and Suzuki Altos (imported from Japan). Daewoo racers were introduced later on. The yellow cab scheme had nothing to do with the motorway, maybe just the Daewoo taxis part. Even if there was a connection it doesn't mean a retarted scheme should be re-introduced. If anything, back then a better deal would've been letting Daewoo import cars into Pakistan with 10% less import duty or something and then sell them as regular cars. Giving away free cars and bankrupting the banks was not a good idea.

Agreed on this scheme .. but at the end of day they are are politicians. Btw I still support only giving out Carry Dabba / Suzuki Bolan in this scheme .. small cars should be banned. Carry Dabba is 99% for business only.

http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/aug2011-daily/13-08-2011/updates/8-13-2011_78610_1.gif

I've heard of this Nandi Poor project .. any one has details on it ?

Yes its a thermal power generation station. I have visited it twice, its 1 km from my village. And last time when I was there the work was in full swing, its a very big project. A friend of mine was also working as a consultant engineer there who recently told me that everything is ready but the custom officials are not releasing the machinery at Karachi port. The worst part is that chinese the comapany has now left the project :bash:

Ashiana Housing Scheme Project Development Work Again Started:

Asa2MZv8n08

http://www.express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110814/Sub_Images/1101309774-1.jpg

Any one from Bahawalpur confirm this ? I used to live there when I was kid and my father was posted there but long time since I've been to Bahwalpur.

@Strong Hearted; can you tell me your name plz...... if you are from Nizam pur... i may know you.....

@Strong Hearted; can you tell me your name plz...... if you are from Nizam pur... i may know you.....

Mohsin :) I am from Lahore but my dad's family roots are from a village near nandi pur called "Othian" I often visit my village once or twice every month.

oh ok, thanks for the reply.... i thought you were from Nizam pur.....

http://www.express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110816/Sub_Images/1101311412-1.jpg

^^

500 houses completed in 4 months & 2200 more are about to complete...WOW

http://express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110818/Sub_Images/1101312902-1.gif

^^ I salute Malik Riaz :applause:

^^ I salute Malik Riaz :applause:

He's a bad man but I won't mind if someone would milk the cow for butter as long as some poor people are benefiting from it.

He always been help to punjab govt....

Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has not only realised the dream of Nawaz Sharif by providing houses to the poor, labourers, widows and deprived persons under Ashiana Housing Scheme (AHS) but also translated the vision of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal into reality.

He said this on Tuesday while addressing a ceremony for the distribution of allotment letters to the lucky recipients of houses allotted through transparent balloting in the first AHS at Soraba Atari.

The CM said that by providing shelter to the shelter-less, a feeling of contentment had been promoted among them and they were made to feel that they were equal citizens of this country.

He said that the AHS was free of corruption and a living proof of the transparent policy of the Punjab government, adding that he was ready to face punishment if any irregularity was proved in the project. He said that in addition to Lahore, work was in progress expeditiously on AHS in six other districts. AHS would be initiated in 18 other districts this year and the scope of the project will be extended to the whole province, the CM added. Civic amenities better than those in the residential colonies of the rich have been provided in the AHS homes for the underprivileged, he said, adding, “Had such schemes been started 64 years ago, the situation of the country would have been totally different today.”

PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif was the chief guest of the event. Senior Adviser Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Muslim League leaders Zafar Iqbal Jhagra, Mashahidullah Khan, members of national and provincial assemblies, provincial ministers, columnists, intellectuals and a large number of people were also present on the occasion. Addressing the audience, the CM said that Quaid-e-Azam had given the message of hard work and acting upon his principle, the AHS project had been completed by working round-the-clock.

He said that the forefathers of the country envisioned a dream on March 23, 1940, which was realised in 1947 after an epic struggle under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam.

Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif, while addressing the audience, said that the provision of shelter to the homeless was a big achievement of the PML-N and Shahbaz Sharif, adding that the project would be extended to other districts as well and a time will come when every Pakistani will have his own house.

“The nation is divided into two classes. On one hand there are people who sit in their offices, just put one signature on files and get a house from national exchequer while on the other hand, there are workers, labourers, cultivators and marginalised persons who do not even have a two-marla house,” Nawaz Sharif said.

It was the responsibility of the state to safeguard the rights of the poor, he said, adding that the PML-N started welfare projects for the poor people during each tenure.

He said that a project had been started for the provision of five lakh houses under Mera Ghar Scheme, adding, “However, Musharraf, after coming into power, immediately sold all the plots at a throwaway price and was not even held accountable for the deed.”

In addition to the Mera Ghar Scheme, lands were also distributed among landless cultivators in Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while proprietary rights were granted to thousands of dwellers of kachi abadies, he said.

Yellow cabs were also distributed during this period and the same welfare projects are still continuing in Punjab, he said. “We will safeguard the rights of the people and will even go to the extent of a long march for the purpose if needed,” said Nawaz Sharif, adding that the country was “not a property of few but home to 18 crore people”.

He said that rights would be granted to the people at their doorstep. The promise made to the people on August 14 will be honoured and destiny of Pakistan will be changed through collective efforts, he added. The time will come when Pakistan will become a prosperous country and every effort will be made to achieve this goal at the earliest, he concluded.

Chief Minister Punjab, Muhammed Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday said Aashiana Housing Scheme project would be extended to 16 more districts and land in this regard had already been acquired.

“The government is committed to provide houses to poor and deserving people without any discrimination,” he told a delegation of members Punjab Assembly who called him on at his chamber today.

Besides Lahore, the chief minister said, Aashiana Housing Schemes were being constructed at Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Jehlum, and Sargodha.

He made it clear that houses being built in these schemes would only be given to widows, orphans, cart-pushers, labourers, cultivators and the commonman and thereby realized their dream of having their own houses.

He said, the project would be extended to 36 districts of the province under a phased programme.

He lamented that while the rich have all the privileges at the doorstep of their mansions, the commonman is deprived even of basic facilities.

He said that Aashiana Housing Schemes are meant for those who have rendered sacrifices for Pakistan, played an important role for the development of the country and earning their livelihood through honest means.

Meanwhile, the allotees of the first Aashiyana Housing Scheme while paying tributes to President Pakistan Muslim League-N Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif at a ceremony held in connection with distribution of allotment letters of the houses at Soraba Atari.

They said that both the leaders feel the pain of the poor. They said that may Allah Almighty give such courageous rulers to the country as could put the country on the road to progress. A widow Rehana Iqbal who got house in the Aashiyana Housing Scheme, said that it is the desire of everyone to have a house of his own. She said that she can not even think of having her own house but the Chief Minister has materialized her dream. Muhammad Nauman said that due to financial constraints, he could not even imagine having his own house in Lahore but Shahbaz Sharif has given him a house and he prays for him from the core of his heart. He said that Allah Almighty will reward him for commitment to the development of the province and welfare of the poor. Another allotee, Rang Elahi said that the slogan of roti, kapra and makan was raised by someone else but Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has materialized it. Muhammad Arif said that his father had died and he was living with his uncle. He said that he, his mother and other members of his family are very happy over having their own house in Aashiyana Housing Scheme and pray for Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif.

Pakistan Muslim League-N leaders, prominent personalities and notables belonging to various sectors from all over the country participated in the ceremony. The venue was jam packed. The joy and happiness on the faces of the allotees was worth-seeing and as soon as the leaders give allotment letters to the lucky persons the venue resounded with the slogans in favour of Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif.

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:cripes:

na ker jani. its not that bad.

Jani kisko bola? :hahano:

:cripes:

I think the increased the quote of Bolan to 40% and 60% of Mehran .. I still think it should've been 75% Bolan and 25% Mehran ... but again they are politicians , they have to secure votes ... I'm pretty sure from those 40% Bolan, atleast 35-37% would be used for small business. There's a huge demand of such cars for small businesses in rural Punjab and remote areas.

^^ Right & those 25% Mehran should only be in big cities. i.e. Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan, Sialkot etc. not in Jhang, Kasur etc...

Aashiyana City to make its debut at Burki Road

Aashiyana City, a housing scheme providing modern amenities to the common man and consisting of more than 20,000 houses will be established at Burki Road, Lahore, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Saturday.

He directed the authorities concerned to submit a comprehensive plan within seven days and added that the project would be exemplary in terms of architecture, quality of work and transparency.

Shahbaz accredited the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for providing shelter to the common man in Punjab and helping in realising the dream of thousands of homeless people of having their own houses through the Aashiyana Housing Scheme. Final shape was being given to the scheme in Lahore and all modern facilities, including an industrial estate, schools, colleges, hospitals and bus terminals would be provided under this project, he said.

The CM directed the Punjab Land Development Company to give a briefing within the coming week regarding feasibility, design, financial model and marketing of Aashiyana City. He said three-storey houses would be constructed on three marlas in all future Aashiyana schemes, so that a maximum number of people could benefit adding that 500 more houses would be completed by September 15 in the first Aashiyana Housing Scheme, whereas other houses were also being completed speedily.

Shahbaz said besides Lahore, work was in progress and applications had been invited for the allotment of houses in Aashiyana Housing Schemes in Sahiwal, Sargodha, Jhelum and Faisalabad. He said the cottage industry would be promoted in Aashiyana Housing Schemes and a plan in consultation with TEVTA and Punjab Vocational Training Council would be formed so that the youth of Aashiyana schemes could be imparted vocational training.

The CM said the best design would be selected for Aashiyana City, Burki Road, and thanked Punjab Land Development Board Director Khawaja Mansoor and Malik Riaz of Bahria Town for their services.

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What's the deal with the Sharif brothers and yellow cabs. Seems like they think it's the only way to make a living for Pakistanis.

What's the deal with the Sharif brothers and yellow cabs. Seems like they think it's the only way to make a living for Pakistanis.

Trust me Suzuki Bolan is going to add to economy and small business but rest of it is a political stunt but it works as they have to get votes from same people.

^^ +1

like all Benazir Bhutto development schemes started by PPP now this is another scheme started by Punjab governament. Yellow cab scheme to some extent will contribute to economy but not Ashiana housing scheme.
For a poor person who have been alloted one house in Ashiana may not have money for food how will he be able to pay for 10 house installment. The money is going in drain. It would have been better if this money was spent on yellow cab scheme.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

Anyone who thinks yellow cab scheme is even remotely a good idea needs to get his head checked. Seriously.

^^ ++1

look at this way this money is going to stay in PK if nothing else not in someones Swiss account

Mari gas co. hits major Oil reserves in Punjab


KARACHI: Mari Gas Company Limited (MGCL) has made a significant crude oil discovery with the additional potential of Associated Gas, during the drilling of Halini Well (near the village Kamar Sar, TehsiI Essa Kheil) in its operated Karak exploration block.

The Block is located at the boundaries of KPK and Punjab provinces (between the districts of Karak and Mianwali).

According to a communiqué of MGCL sent to KSE here Friday, the discovery is estimated to accrue huge foreign exchange savings which could range in billions of dollars at the current oil price trend and thus contribute towards the nation's endeavor to reduce dependence on Imported energy.

The Halini Well was spud on January 07, 2011 and was drilled upto a depth of 5,350 meters. During the initial short duratIon tests carried out, the well flowed at the average rate of I,700 barrels/day crude oil of API gravity 26 at 32/64 choke size.

The flow rates from the well are expected to increase with further testing and stimulation treatment which is planned to be conducted, shortly.

The prospect is estimated to spread over a large area and the Company is planning to drill additional wells to delineate the exact extent, size and reserves potential of this oil discovery.

The Karak Block was granted to MGCL, as operator and 100% interest owner, on April 14, 2005. Subsequently MOL Pakistan Oil & Gas Company B.V. (an E&P company of Hungary) acquired 40% interest share in tho Block from MGCL.


Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011



http://www.brecorder.com/top-news/1-front-top-news/31741-mari-gas-hits-major-oil-reserves.html

Aashiyana Housing Scheme Project Review

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said the work on Aashiyana-II scheme on Barki Road will be started from December 25.

According to a handout, he was addressing a meeting during his visit to under-construction Ashiyana Housing Scheme at Saroba Atari here on Sunday.

He said work on the Ashiyana Housing schemes in Jehlum, Sahiwal, Faisalabad and Sargodha was continuing speedily whereas these schemes would be started in 17 more districts and their scope would be extended to the entire province under a phased programme.

The meeting reviewed the progress on Ashiyana-I, II schemes in Lahore and other districts of the province.

Punjab Land Development Company CEO informed the chief minister about the pace of work on the schemes.

The chief minister said the policy of austerity should be observed in execution of Ashiyana schemes and acquiring of government land should be preferred for the purpose.

He said Barki Road ‘Aashiyana City’ consisting of more than 20,000 houses would be unique with regard to architecture, quality and transparency.

He said construction of multi-storey buildings and setting up of an industrial village for trade activities in Aashiyana-II should also be considered.

Punjab Land Development Company CEO in his detailed briefing told the meeting that land for Aashiyana schemes had been identified in 10 out of 17 districts of the province whereas the process of identifying land in other districts was also continuing speedily.

Later, Shahbaz Sharif inspected the under-construction houses and sports complex in Aashiyana Housing project.

Aashiana-II to open soon: CM

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that besides extension of the project of Aashiana Housing scheme at Saroba Attari, the foundation stone of Aashiana-II at Burki will be laid soon.

He was presiding over a meeting to review the progress on Aashiana Housing project. The meeting reviewed in detail Aashiyana Housing Schemes in Lahore and other districts of the province.

The chief minister said the Punjab government had launched the project of Aashiana Housing scheme for the benefit of the poor, widows, orphans and workers and due to the programme, the dream of shelterless people to have their own house had come true. He also issued instructions for accelerating the work on Aashiana schemes in the province.

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like all Benazir Bhutto development schemes started by PPP now this is another scheme started by Punjab governament. Yellow cab scheme to some extent will contribute to economy but not Ashiana housing scheme.
For a poor person who have been alloted one house in Ashiana may not have money for food how will he be able to pay for 10 house installment. The money is going in drain. It would have been better if this money was spent on yellow cab scheme.

+1 economy 101

Punjab government, Turk companies ink MoUs

Memorandums of Understanding for co-operation in various sectors were signed between Punjab government and Turk companies in a ceremony at Chief Minister's Secretariat, here Tuesday. The agreements reached at between Punjab government and Turk companies include Bus Rapid Transit, E-ticketing, parking, vocational education, traffic management and signal free corridor.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that Turkey is a brotherly Islamic country and there are strong historical, religious and cultural relations between Turkey and Pakistan. He said that the agreements signed today are a milestone in transforming bilateral relations between the two countries into trade and economic ties.

He thanked Turk Prime Minister, Tayeb Ardgan, Mayor Istanbul, Kadir Topbash and Turk Ambassador in Pakistan Mustafa Babur Hizlan for the agreements of co-operation.

He said that the agreements with Turk companies will be given a practical shape. He said that an agreement has already been signed with Istanbul Municipality for making Lahore a clean city and Turk companies have arrived in the provincial metropolis and the practical implementation of the project will be started in the beginning of February. He said that due to this agreement Lahore will also become a clean city like Istanbul and cleanliness conditions will be maintained in other cities of Punjab as well on this pattern.

He said that Bus Rapid Transit Project will span over 60km and its first phase is expected to be completed in February next.

He said that an agreement has also been made with Turk companies for promotion of vocational education under which technical education will be imparted to the youth in the province.

He said that the agreements, especially, in the sector of solid waste management have become possible due to dynamic personality of Chief Minister Punjab, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif. He said that development projects in Punjab will help in bringing Turkey and Pakistan further closer. He expressed hope that besides Lahore, Turk companies will also provide service in different sectors in other cities of the province.

Ahmad Hassan said that under bus rapid transit system, service will be started at Ferozepur Road, Multan Road and Canal Area of Lahore while Ring Road would also be included in the system. He said it is his desire that side by side Chinese busses, Turk busses may also ply on roads in Punjab as well.

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Ashiana schemes

Shahbaz Sharif has said that the credit for Ashiana Housing Scheme goes to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz which materialised the dream of “Apna Ghar Apni Jannat” of the poor.

He said that besides the provincial metropolis, work was also being carried out in 17 districts of the province. He was presiding over a meeting to review the pace of implementation of the Ashiana Housing Scheme across the province here on Sunday. Shahbaz said that after the first Ashiana Housing Scheme at Saroba Attari, the work on Ashiana-II in Lahore would also start soon whereas the process of identification of land for such schemes in 17 other districts of the province had also been completed.

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Chief minister Punjab hands over keys to deserving families

Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif on Monday handed over keys of the houses to the deserving families in Aashiyana Housing Scheme, Saroba Attari.

Addressing the gathering Shahbaz said that for the first time in the history of the country the families of martyrs, widows and common man have been provided with such residential facilities at affordable prices through this scheme.

Provincial Minister Iqbal Channar, members of national and provincial assembly, vice chancellors of various universities, vice chairman Punjab educational endowment fund, former chief justice Lahore High Court, commissioner Lahore and a large number of people were present.

The chief minister said Pakistan Muslim League-N has provided shelter to the poor and low-income people through Aashiyana Housing Scheme, and houses equipped with most modern facilities have been given to common citizens at very reasonable rate.

He said Aashiyana Housing Schemes have also been started in other cities of the province on the pattern of Lahore to provide shelter to thousands of shelterless people.

"I will continue to serve the masses and make Pakistan a strong and prosperous country," he said.

Addressing the function Chairman Punjab Land Development Company, Sheikh Alauddin said that the dream of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif of providing houses to the shelter-less has now become a reality.

He said work was in progress on Aashiyana housing schemes in various cities of Punjab and modern houses will be provided to widows, destitute persons, labourers and families of martyrs in these schemes.

He said that sports, education, health and other basic amenities were being provided in these colonies.

He said that more land had been acquired in Saroba Attari, on which 3,000 more houses to be constructed.

Vice Chairman Punjab Educational Endowment Fund, Dr Amjad Saqib said that as the member of scrutiny committee, he has had the opportunity to monitor the entire scheme and was confident that houses have been allotted in Aashiyana housing scheme in a transparent manner.

Former justice Aamir Raza Khan also spoke on the occasion.

^^

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GREEN CENTER IN GUJRANWALA

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Lahore Main B Any wala hai asay Project

3000 more Ashiana house will be built: CM

Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday announced that 3000 more houses would constructed under the low-cost Ashian Housing Scheme which he said was started for the labourers, widows and the poor, Geo News reported.

Addressing a meeting to review the progress in regard to Yellow Cab scheme and Ashian Housing Scheme, the Chief Minister said distribution of Cabs among the unemployed youth was underway while work on Ashiana-2 would be started soon.

Shahbaz Sharif said a one-window operation would be started in the Bank of Punjab for speedy completion of Yellow Cabs' distribution.

PM opens Boman Ji Chowk flyover

MULTAN: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Froday opened a Rs 1.596 billion flyover recently built at Boman Ji Chowk here on Friday.

It is the sixth interchange built in the city under PM's package, which starts from Boman Ji Chowk and reaches the Old Shujabad Road after passing over some troubled traffic points of the city, including Aziz Hotel Chowk, Double Phatak and Kumhar Mandi Chowk.

Prime Minister Gilani congratulated the people of area on the completion of flyover, which he said, would be linked to motorway through the expansion of Old Shujabad Road. He said he would not stay at the site for long so that the people did not face traffic problems and left for inaugurating PTV Multan Station.

The 1.6 kilometre long interchange was part of a Rs 3.58 billion Inner Ring Road project comprising six interchanges. Five of them, including Jinah Chowk, Chungi No 9, Chungi No 8, Pul Mauj Darya and Nishtar Chowk, have already been opened for traffic. Chairman of the National Highway Authoprity Syed Mohammad Ali Gardezi gave a detailed briefing to the Prime Minister on the project.

Work on the Chowk Rasheedabad interchange will begin soon.

Federal Minister for Communications Dr Arbab Alamgir Khan, members of Punjab Assembly Syed Abdul Qadir Gilani, Syed Nazim Hussain Shah and Malik Ahmad Hussain Dehar, PM's Media Coordinator Khawaja Rizwan Alam and former MNA Malik Liaquat Dogar were also present.

Arbab Alamgir Khan on the occasion said that projects worth Rs 50 billion were under execution in south Punjab,m including Rs 15 billion schemes in Multan.

He said the Prime Minister led an unprecedented process of development across the country, particularly focusing on uplift of backward areas.

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^^

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Any Faisalabad Project Discussed??

Punjab CM’s visit: Turkey offers to build power plants in Punjab

Energy minister also offers alternative energy options to Shahbaz Sharif.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif during his four-day visit to Turkey met on Wednesday with Istanbul’s mayor, the governor and the energy minister and discussed issues of mutual interest with them. Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yaldez offered his country’s support to Sharif in overcoming the ongoing energy crisis in Pakistan.

Sharif’s visit to Turkey has been overdue for two months. He left for Istanbul on Monday, accompanied by a high-powered delegation comprising members of the provincial assembly, technocrats, bureaucrats and experts from various fields, particularly transport, energy sector and solid waste management. The Punjab CM is scheduled to return home on Friday.

During his meeting with Yaldez, the Punjab CM discussed cooperation in various projects between the Punjab government and Turkey.

Yaldez offered Sharif all kinds of assistance in meeting Pakistan’s energy needs by setting up hydel and coal power projects in Punjab. The energy minister also mentioned various projects of alternative energy sources in which, he said, Turkey and the Punjab government could extend cooperation. Yaldez said he could immediately send energy experts from Turkey to motivate the business community in Pakistan for investment in the energy sector in Punjab, adding that Pakistan would always be a priority for Turkey.

Thanking the minister, Sharif said that under the current circumstances, Pakistan needs immediate “effective and all-out” assistance in the power sector. Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbash assured the Punjab chief minister that Turkey would ensure a proper status for Pakistan in the international community and will take active part in the country’s development activities.

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Sohawa Chakwal Talagang Mianwali Highway recently finished road.

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This highway looks nice

Looks nice...


HCS doing great job...

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Land marked for AHS in 17 other districts: CM

Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif said that the Punjab government was pursuing a comprehensive programme for public welfare in the province, in connection to which several uplift projects were being executed expeditiously.

He said this while giving a detailed briefing to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif regarding the progress of public welfare projects, during a high-level on Wednesday.

Opposition leader in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, provincial ministers, MPAs, chief secretary, Board of Revenue’s senior member, Planning and Development chairman, administrative secretaries of various departments and divisional commissioners were also present during the meeting.

Talking about the Ashiana Housing Scheme (AHS), the CM praised the Punjab government for realising the dream of the common man of having his own house.

The houses provided under the AHS have better residential facilities than those found in the housing societies of the elite. He said that after the first AHS in Saroba Attari, Lahore, not only the scope of this project was being extended but land for the scheme had also been identified in 17 other districts of the province.

He said that 22 model villages had been constructed for those affected or displaced during the floods, adding that modern amenities and infrastructure was being provided to the people in these villages.

He said that the programme of distribution of 3 and 5 marla plots to the homeless living in both the rural and urban areas of the province had been finalised under which one lakh plots would be distributed to people in the rural areas and five lakh plots to those living in the urban centres.

Shahbaz said that the process of distribution of plots among the homeless would be carried out in a completely transparent manner, under the supervision of district-monitoring committees.

He said that a policy was also being formulated for awarding proprietary rights to the dwellers of katchi abadies, which would soon be given a final shape. He said that the Punjab government had also taken solid measures for provision of transport and other basic facilities to the masses. The CM then referred to the modern transport system that was recently launched in the metropolis, adding that its scope was being extended to other cities of the province as well. He also talked about the agreement signed between the Punjab government and the Turk companies for making Lahore a neat and clean city.

Appreciating the public welfare projects initiated by the of Punjab government, Nawaz Sharif said that the government’s policies should focus on the welfare of the common man as they had an equal right over the national resources.

NLC urged to develop trade infrastructure at Wagha speedily

NLC authorities should expedite work on infrastructure development at Wagha Border to cope with fast increasing influx of imports from India.

Pak-India Trade Promotion Standing Committee’s convener Aftab Ahmad Vohra on Tuesday said ECC (Economic Coordination Committee) decision to include 18 more items in positive list of imports from India was a welcome step but the existing infrastructure at Wagha Border was not up-to-the mark to cater to the huge quantity of imports.

He said the NLC authorities should initiate consultations with private sector representatives for establishment of much needed infrastructure at Wagha Border that would be one of the busiest ports in the country.

He urged the government NLC Wagha Border Terminal should be operated by a Board of Trustees having public-private representatives.

Cabinet approves 3 more women universities

A cabinet meeting at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Saturday approved several draft laws including those for the establishment of three universities for women in the province, the setting up of a knowledge city at Rakh Dera Chahal, Evacuee Trust Properties (Management and Disposal) Amendment Bill 2012 and a policy aimed at plying CNG buses in big cities.

The meeting presided over by the chief minister also reviewed the Punjab Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority Act 2012 and decided that a cabinet committee consider the recommendations and that the recommendations be widely circulated to seek public feedback.

The meeting decided that recommendations with regard to setting up an information technology university matching international standards be submitted at the next meeting. It also decided that the Net Café Regulations Act be submitted again after review.

Sharif disclosed that an agreement with regard to establishing an information technology university had also been made during his visit to Turkey. While giving approval to new women universities in Bahawalpur, Sialkot and Faisalabad.

Sharif directed that the universities be set up at divisional headquarters where women universities do not exist. Sharif said that Rakh Dera Chahal land be utilised for promotion of educational activities.

He disclosed that 575 additional CNG buses are being imported. Besides Lahore, the buses would run in Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan and Gujranwala. Some buses would be sent to Bahawalpur. He said that CNG should be provided for public transport throughout the week.

Sharif constituted a cabinet committee headed by the law minister with regard to an amendment in Section 19 of the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act 2006 and added that the committee should submit its report after reviewing that amendment.

The chief minister directed to constitute a committee headed by the chief secretary regarding provision of facilities to special persons and amendment in the Punjab Social Services Board Ordinance 1970.

Good stuff.

Shahbaz Sharif is much more productive then his brother.

Good stuff.

Shahbaz Sharif is much more productive then his brother.

Nawaz is a junk head as proved by his performance in opposition, Shahbaz is a hardworking administrator. He would have shun more if given the proper funding and good economy by Federal Government.

Long may he govern Punjab. Punjab should eye 6% growth.

they are both one of the same. its a face saving tactic.

Urban transport: 575 new buses to arrive in Lahore

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100 buses from China to be available in February.

To ensure efficient and affordable transport facilities, the Lahore Transport Company will soon provide 575 new buses in the city.

One hundred of these buses will be available in Lahore from China in the last week of February, LTC chairman Khwaja Ahmed Hassan told a meeting of the company’s board of directors at the Chief Minister Secretariat on Tuesday. He added that the technical standards of these buses will be monitored through a transparent mechanism.

Mentioning the Punjab chief minister’s recent visit to Ankara, Hassan said that Turkey has agreed to assist Punjab in a bus rapid transit project, electronic ticketing on buses and other sectors of social development. “Construction of the first phase of bus rapid transit, from General Hospital to Canal Road, will begin at the end of February.”

Talking about the unavailability of CNG, he said that the Punjab government has moved the Supreme Court, seeking uninterrupted supply of gas to public transport vehicles. “Promotion of CNG in public transport is a cardinal feature of the LTC. Federal government should immediately ensure provision of CNG to the transport sector and exempt it from gas loadshedding.”

Punjab mulls two more highways, other projects

The Punjab government is launching four major projects with the cooperation of private sector including construction of two highways, building of 21 silos under Punjab Green Storage Project and of provision of modern transport facilities to the people.

This was informed in a meeting of Punjab public-private partnership committee presided over by Provincial Minister for Planning & Development Ch Abdul Ghafoor, here on Wednesday. Provincial Finance Minister Kamran Michael, Chairman Planning & Development, Secretary P&D, Secretary Finance and senior officers were present.

Addressing the meeting, Ch. Abdul Ghafoor said that participation of private sector in public welfare projects was of paramount importance for realizing the dream of rapid progress and development. The meeting was informed that the projects to be initiated with the collaboration of private sector include construction of two highways including the southern portion of Lahore Ring Road for which land will be provided by Punjab government. Under the project, 40 kilometer long road will be constructed at a cost of 62 billion rupees. In order to check the wastage of wheat, Punjab Green Storage Project will also be executed under public-private partnership. The construction of green storages will help reserve 3 lakh 50 thousand metric ton wheat in scientific manner and a sum of five billion rupees will be spent on the project which will be provided by private sector.

The project will be started in 2014 and completed within two years.

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Model Village Documentry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELGXhEJIH1k&feature=youtu.be

CM inaugurates Rahim Yar Khan Industrial Estate

Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif inaugurated Rahim Yar Khan Industrial Estate, on Wednesday. This 500 Acres industrial estate is located on N-5 High way mid of Bhahdurpur chowk, Sadiqabad. The area is at the junction of 3 provinces most suited for industrial growth.

The Chairman Punjab Industrial Estates Development and Management Company SM Tanveer said on this occasion that Rahim Yar Khan Industrial Estate would provide 60000 jobs and help eradicating poverty not only from this area but from South Punjab.

Being a project of Punjab Industrial Estates Development and Management Company, the estate is promised to be of International standards. This company already has state of the art Sundar Industrial Estate to its credit.
Mr. SM Tanveer while talking to local members of Chamber of Commerce re-itrated that the Government led by Chief Minister of Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif desire to develop South Punjab and bring it at par with other parts of province. Locals of area have highly appreciated this project as it would lead to growth and job creation.

The PIE Chairman Said that planning and development of nine others industrial estates in the province was also underway. He said these industrial estates would be established in Kasur Tannery Park, Gujrat, Vehari, Bahawalpur, D G Khan, Wazirabad Cutlery Cluster, Jhang, Okara, Sahiwal and Rawalpindi. He said the PIE was working under the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Shairf to make the Punjab an industrial hub in the country with all modern facilities. He said 100 acre each Halal Park would also be established in Rahim Yar Khan and Multan Industrial Estates to promote the Halal Product of Pakistan and get its share from world Halal Food market.

He said PIEDMC made the Public Private Partnership concept successful and completing its project without support of any government institution. He said the Punjab government had given Rs one billion only at time of PIEDMC established and now it is Rs 15 billion worth Company with all positive repute. He said for Rahim Yar Khan Industrial Estate PIE is providing Rs 240 million while Master Plan of Bahlwal Industrial Estate was completed and litigations in Multan Industrial Estate was finished so that work on Phase-II of this estate was started.

Shahbaz gives away keys of AHS houses

The recipients of keys to Ashiana houses who included teachers, junior officials of the public and private institutions, widows and workers were all praise for the chief minister. A blind artist Aliya Rashid, who works at a private school, said that she could not even think of having her own house and she would now live in the housing scheme with her parents.

Another schoolteacher, Abid Shahzad, said no ruler ever worked for the poor during last 64 years and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was the only one who had taken measures for their betterment and provided them with houses equipped with modern facilities.

A school employee, Samuel, said that he could not construct a house during his service and credit went to the Khadim-e-Punjab for providing shelter to the poor. He said the housing project was also unprecedented with regard to transparency as those who came for verification of the documents for the allotment of houses in Ashiana Housing Scheme did not have even a glass of water.

Liaqat Ali Khan of Chiniot said that he had applied along with his friends for a house in the housing scheme but could not believe that it was possible without bribe or influence. He said that though the rich had been availing facilities and privileges but no one had thought of the poor. An aged worker at a general store, Sajjad, was having tears of joy when he received the key.

PM announces construction of Syed Wala Bridge

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Saturday announced the construction of a new bridge on River Ravi at Syed Wala to ensure better and short travel facility to people of adjoining districts including Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura, Okara, Pakpatan and Lahore.

This bridge will also considerably reduce distance among these cities and other backward areas for quickly and timely moving their agriculture products to markets and industry, he added.Prime Minister said that necessary funds are being released for the construction of the bridge on priority basis.

CM Punjab heralds another housing scheme

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that foundation stone of Aashiyana Iqbal on Barki Road will be laid on March 23 and besides construction of 5, 7 and 10 marla houses, apartments will also be constructed here.

He said that after first Aashiyana Housing Scheme at Saroba Attari, thousands of houses with modern facilities will also be constructed in Aashiyana Iqbal for the poor and common man.

This he stated while presiding over a meeting regarding Aashiyana Iqbal project on Barki Road, here Sunday. Chairman Punjab Land Development Company Sheikh Alauddin, Chairman Planning & Development, Senior Member Board of Revenue, DCO Lahore and officers concerned were also present on the occasion.

Chief Executive Officer PLDC Momin Agha gave a detailed briefing about the project of Aashiyana Iqbal.

He said that best and precious land has been selected for Aashiyana Iqbal on Barki Road where besides other facilities, bus terminal, medical college, university and technical educational institute will also be established.

The Chief Minister directed DCO Lahore to immediately start the construction work of link road for Aashiyana Iqbal and a police kiosk should also be set up there.

Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif inspected various parks constructed at Allama Iqbal International Airport.

Director General PHA Abdul Jabbar Shaheen informed on this occasion that besides two thousand plants of guava, plants of citrus fruit have also been planted and these parks will be considered the best parks within two to three months.

cool.

EDIT

PM announces construction of Syed Wala Bridge

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Saturday announced the construction of a new bridge on River Ravi at Syed Wala to ensure better and short travel facility to people of adjoining districts including Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura, Okara, Pakpatan and Lahore.

This bridge will also considerably reduce distance among these cities and other backward areas for quickly and timely moving their agriculture products to markets and industry, he added.Prime Minister said that necessary funds are being released for the construction of the bridge on priority basis.
ANY IDEA ABOUT LENGTH OR ANY RENDER ,IS IT CABLE BRIDGE

^^

At this point it is just an announcement. Don't worry about the length etc. :)

Landlord hits Oil reserves in Bahawalpur, near the Lal Sohanra National Park.


When landlord Muneer Ahmed ordered the digging of a well in Bahawalpur, the last thing he expected to strike was black gold. Following the discovery of oil near the Lal Sohanra National Park, the area was taken into custody by the ministry of petroleum and natural resources.


The ministry also deputed security officials around the well and its surrounding areas. A joint team of Pakistani and Chinese engineers has been formed to work in the area, said an official from the petroleum ministry. “A large oil reservoir has been discovered but we are trying to locate its depth”, the official said.


He added that engineers are also studying other areas in district Bahawalpur to check the availability of oil in the region. The property where oil was found had been part of agricultural land donated to farmers, said Hassan Daha, former mayor from the area. The land, however, is under the jurisdiction of Lal Sohanra National Park, he added. Ahmed, who made the inadvertent discovery, said he was not aware of it earlier but has now been informed by officials that the area where the discovery was made did not fall in his property.


The China National Petroleum Corporation has been tasked to work, in coordination with local engineers, in the area. Meanwhile, the site has been cordoned off with barbed wire on the orders of local police chief Ishaq Jehangir.

Landlord hits Oil reserves in Bahawalpur, near the Lal Sohanra National Park.


When landlord Muneer Ahmed ordered the digging of a well in Bahawalpur, the last thing he expected to strike was black gold. Following the discovery of oil near the Lal Sohanra National Park, the area was taken into custody by the ministry of petroleum and natural resources.


The ministry also deputed security officials around the well and its surrounding areas. A joint team of Pakistani and Chinese engineers has been formed to work in the area, said an official from the petroleum ministry. “A large oil reservoir has been discovered but we are trying to locate its depth”, the official said.


He added that engineers are also studying other areas in district Bahawalpur to check the availability of oil in the region. The property where oil was found had been part of agricultural land donated to farmers, said Hassan Daha, former mayor from the area. The land, however, is under the jurisdiction of Lal Sohanra National Park, he added. Ahmed, who made the inadvertent discovery, said he was not aware of it earlier but has now been informed by officials that the area where the discovery was made did not fall in his property.


The China National Petroleum Corporation has been tasked to work, in coordination with local engineers, in the area. Meanwhile, the site has been cordoned off with barbed wire on the orders of local police chief Ishaq Jehangir.

Lets hope it turns out to be a KHUSHKHABRI

e was not aware of it earlier but has now been informed by officials that the area where the discovery was made did not fall in his property
what can you expect from "babus"/bureaucrats... same thing happened in Sui years ago... obviously no lessons learned :ohno:

http://jang.com.pk/jang/feb2012-daily/26-02-2012/updates/2-26-2012_98021_1.gif

GIFT University Gujranwala



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University Of Gujrat


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wonderful campuses. really impressive

This Lahore-Kasur road looks great.
Halogen Lights.

http://hcs.com.pk/images/Lhr%20Kasur/14.JPG

Jehlum needs a varsity or two.

Work in progress on hospital: CM

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that work is speedily in progress on 410-bed hospital in Bahawalpur and Institute of Cardiology in Rawalpindi while district and tehsil headquarters hospitals are also being upgraded. He was presiding over a high level meeting to review the pace of implementation of health projects, here on Tuesday.

The CM said new hospitals were being constructed in the province which will result in availability of quality health facilities to the patients. He said that government is also paying special attention to the promotion of medical education and four new medical colleges were being set up in Gujranwala, Sialkot, Dera Ghazi Khan and Sahiwal where classes had already been started.

He said that the building of DG Khan Medical College will be completed by September 30 while construction work is speedily in progress on Gujranwala and Sahiwal Medical Colleges. He directed that all issues pertaining to Khawaja Safdar Medical College Sialkot be resolved within 48 hours and construction work of the college building be started immediately. He directed Advisor on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique to review development projects in health sector throughout the province and hold accountable the officers concerned where the pace of work is slow on development projects and measures should be taken for their speedy completion.

The CM also directed to accelerate the process of the purchase of machinery for hospitals and the companies supplying this machinery should also ensure their operation for three years as well as after sale service. Secretary Health Capt. (Retd) Arif Nadeem while informing about the pace of execution of the development projects, told that upgradation of District Headquarters Hospital Sargodha is continuing while 300-bed hospital in Shahdarah is also being completed expeditiously. He further informed that the work will soon be started on Institute of Urology and Transplantation in Rawalpindi.

Punjab govt approves nine new uplift schemes

The Punjab Government has approved nine uplift Schemes with an estimated cost of Rs. 13,518.953 million. The approval was given in the 36th meeting of the Provincial Development working Party presided over by Planning and Development Board Chairman, JavaidAslam. The approved schemes include Up-gradation of Mechanical System of WASA Faisalabad at the cost of Rs.968.000 million, Establishment of Govt.

Degree College for Women Gawalmandi, Lahore at the cost of Rs.331.204 million, Implementation of Master Plan Lahore General Hospital, Lahore (Phase-II)at the cost of Rs.957.800 million, Widening/Improvement of SurajMiani Road which starts from Katchery Chowk and ends at Northern Bypass length=4.60 km in Multan City at the cost of Rs. 373.174 million,Dualization of metalled road from Niaz Petrol Pump to 300 Bedded Hospital via University Chowk to Deewan Wali Pully (length=5.25 Km), District Bahawalpur at the cost of Rs. 303.275 million, Construction of Bus Rapid Transit System along Ferozepur Road, Youhanaabad to KalmaChowk (10.0 km) Package-I. at the cost of Rs. 3821.248million, Construction of Bus Rapid Transit System along Ferozepur Road, Package-II: KalmaChowk to QartabaChowk (length 4.9 Km)at the cost of Rs. 2632.405 million, Construction of Bus Rapid Transit System along Ferozepur Road, Package-III: QartabaChowk to M.A.O College (Elevated Section-2.5 Km) at the cost of Rs. 3807.014 million and Rehabilitation of Muridke Branch System (Revised) at the cost of Rs.324.832 million.

Members of the P&D Board and representatives of the Finance, Environment, Health, Higher Education, Communication & Works, Transport, Irrigation& Housing and Urban development Departments also attended the meeting.

Punjab is the heart of Pakistan.

Punjab is the heart of Pakistan.
That explains why our country is in such bad health.

Punjab is acting like a bawss for the past 4 years.

all developing work going on in Punjab and Sindh only!!!

wtf ? Can you guys spare these thoughts for Gup Shup forums instead of polluting Infrastructure threads.

wtf ? Can you guys spare these thoughts for Gup Shup forums instead of polluting Infrastructure threads.

mirchi lagi punjab ka naam lay kar???

^^ dude cut it.

Jehlum needs a varsity or two.

Punjab University Jhelum campus.

https://www.facebook.com/Pu.Edu.pk.Jhelum

PM opens Rs 200 mln Khangarh bypass

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani inaugurated the newly built Khangarh bypass here Saturday.The Rs 200 million 5.5 kilometre long bypass would provide better road access to Khangarh and adjoining areas to benefit commuters and traders.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister announced to upgrade the passport office, establish Pak PWD office, build bridge between Khangarh and Shah Jamal over river Chenab, establishment of a campus of university and to restore the Overseas Pakistanis school in Khangarh. The Prime Minister also announced to give another bus to provide free travelling facilities to the residents of Muzaffargarh on the request of MNA Jamshed Ahmad Khan Dasti.

Mapping Pakistan: LUMS and Google launch Tech for People Initiative
By Aroosa Shaukat

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LAHORE:

“A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with the Punjab government which will bring street views of some regions in the province. Google is committed to helping Pakistan progress,” said Google’s Public Policy and Government Affairs senior analyst William Fitzgerald while launching Technology for People Initiative (TPI) at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) on Wednesday.

Under the umbrella of the LUMS Research Initiative on Internet and Society, which was launched last week, the TPI is a joint venture between LUMS and Google. According to Fitzgerald, TPI has received Rs10 million funding from Google. Fitzgerald said the funding aimed to create collaborations and assist in implementation of projects. “We have also worked with the Army and helped disaster management efforts especially during the floods,” he said.

LUMS School of Science & Engineering Dean Dr Sohail Qureshi said he was looking forward to the partnership with LUMS.

Department Chair Dr Sohaib Khan said the focus in TPI would be on research and development projects. He said there were many areas especially in the health and education sectors where such initiatives could help in monitoring.

Vice Chancellor Dr Adil Najam said, “We want to talk about innovation and how we can make it real for Pakistan.” He said technology had empowered people by bridging physical distances and connecting them digitally. Dr Najam said in collaboration with Google, LUMS hoped to connect people and make innovation relevant to society.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19th, 2012.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/366699/mapping-pakistan-lums-and-google-launch-tech-for-people-initiative/

WOHOOO ^^ Great news this is !!

Nice news...

Narowal newly constructed main entrance:
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Urban transport: Sharif promises AC buses for seven cities
LAHORE:
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Tuesday his government plans to launch air-conditioned buses in seven major cities of the Punjab. The announcement came on Tuesday during a meeting with Lahore Transport Company Chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan and Bus Rapid Transit System Chairman Mehar Ishtiaq.
The Planning and Development Board chairman, Transport and Finance Departments secretaries, divisional commissioners, Lahore Development Authority director general, the district coordination officer and National Engineering Services Pakistan (Pvt) Limited representatives were also present.
A Chief Minister’s Secretariat spokesperson told The Express Tribune that several decisions were taken in the meeting regarding the air-conditioned bus service, establishing the Bus Rapid Transit Authority and modernising the public transport system in the province.
The chief minister while addressing the meeting said that the provision of affordable and comfortable transport facilities to the masses was one of the government’s priorities. He said that air-conditioned CNG public transport buses will soon be launched in Lahore, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Multan, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Sialkot.
He said that 350 buses had so far been imported from Turkey. Out of these, he said, 200 had arrived in Lahore last week. The remaining were undergoing the clearance process in Karachi. The chief minister said that the service would soon be launched in collaboration with the private sector.
The chief minister said that a proposal to launch a bus service up to Wagha border was also under consideration. He also directed the district coordination officers to take special measures for regulating traffic in their districts.
He said that establishing a certified parking company was the need of the hour. He said it would soon be set up under the city district government, which would be responsible for safe and suitable parking arrangements at various points in the city.
The chief minister said that the Bus Rapid Transit Authority would run a Metro Bus Service. He said that the Metro Bus Service would prove a paradigm shift in the public transport system in the country.
He also directed the officers concerned to make necessary arrangements to accommodate the disabled and senior citizens. He said besides installation of electronic ticketing in Metro Bus Service, proper training will be given to its staff.
“A Metro Bus would be available every two minutes,” he added.
Later, Hassaan briefed the chief minister on various aspects of the Bus Rapid Transit System.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/372753/urban-transport-sharif-promises-ac-buses-for-seven-cities/

Labour Colony Muzaffargarh consists of 303 homes, a Mosque, School, and Shopping Market with facilities like Sewrage, Water supply, Roads & External electrification works.

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Good God...more red-brick buildings. Why can't these people come up with other simple design ideas?

^^
bcoz, it is cheapest

These seem like fairly decent houses for poor people. If everyone in Pakistan had at least this standard of house at a minimum we would be doing okay.

How come punjab is doing so much better than other provinces? Right answer: hard work and dedication. The whole team working under CM punjab is highly dedicated and well educated. Two of my cousins who were born in england are currently working in senior posts in punjab govt and they have done many great things, the changes they are bringing, you guys will notice in couple of years. And these two guys arent just university passed graduates. One of them was on a senior position for london transit and the other one was on a senior position in some oil company in UK. Their sister has also applied for a position in punjab govt, but she is on hold and she was responsible for the Canadarm maintenance. its a robotic space station. Anyways, the purpose of this thread is that there are some extremely well educated people in punjab govt, we need to act like good citizens and help each other to take this province forward.

How come punjab is doing so much better than other provinces? Right answer: hard work and dedication. The whole team working under CM punjab is highly dedicated and well educated. Two of my cousins who were born in england are currently working in senior posts in punjab govt and they have done many great things, the changes they are bringing, you guys will notice in couple of years. And these two guys arent just university passed graduates. One of them was on a senior position for london transit and the other one was on a senior position in some oil company in UK. Their sister has also applied for a position in punjab govt, but she is on hold and she was responsible for the Canadarm maintenance. its a robotic space station. Anyways, the purpose of this thread is that there are some extremely well educated people in punjab govt, we need to act like good citizens and help each other to take this province forward.
right, people from other provinces are dumb and retarded (sarcasm), cool logic bro, pakistan doesnt revolves around punjab you know, other provinces need development too, i have been living in KP since 14 years now and there has been no major development project here since forever, anyways good luck to punjab, looks amazing

right, people from other provinces are dumb and retarded (sarcasm), cool logic bro, pakistan doesnt revolves around punjab you know, other provinces need development too, i have been living in KP since 14 years now and there has been no major development project here since forever, anyways good luck to punjab, looks amazing
Where did I say people from other provinces are dumb and retarded? Sounds like you cant digest something, go eat hajmoola :bash:

These seem like fairly decent houses for poor people. If everyone in Pakistan had at least this standard of house at a minimum we would be doing okay.

Exactly.

How much do they retail for?

right, people from other provinces are dumb and retarded (sarcasm), cool logic bro, pakistan doesnt revolves around punjab you know, other provinces need development too, i have been living in KP since 14 years now and there has been no major development project here since forever, anyways good luck to punjab, looks amazing

With regards to KP, the real question is whether funds are being allocated and if(probably) yes, where do they end up. The problem with other provinces and south punjab is that leaders there are pathetic with no sense of infrastructure development...end result is lack of or poor infrastructure at best, people suffer and then they blame punjab for it. For a start, you should look at the kind of money bugti family gets from federal government...and then look at the level of development in their own areas...that should answer any doubts you have.

With regards to KP, the real question is whether funds are being allocated and if(probably) yes, where do they end up. The problem with other provinces and south punjab is that leaders there are pathetic with no sense of infrastructure development...end result is lack of or poor infrastructure at best, people suffer and then they blame punjab for it. For a start, you should look at the kind of money bugti family gets from federal government...and then look at the level of development in their own areas...that should answer any doubts you have.
Lol Agree, remember that "Degree to degree hoti hai asli ho ya jali". You would never expect such a blatant and ridiculous statement from punjab CM. People have guts to blame their problems on Punjab when punjab is the only province that has shown the most prosperity, where everyone is accepted regardless of ethnicity. You cannot live freely in karachi, you have to choose a side and once you have chosen a side, its you against them, You are either with us or against us. Same applies to NWFP and balochistan

i agree with @Gobaby... you are absolutely right...

Guess we haven't had such a retarded discussion for a few days. Thanks Lahore88, you should contribute more.

Wonder if BT (Malik Raiz) contributed some resources for this colony