The Punjab Provincial Development Working Group (PDWP) approved 8 new road projects at an estimated cost of almost Rs 9 billion.
In its seventh meeting of FY2022 held earlier this week under the supervision of Planning & Development Board Chairman Abdullah Khan Sumbal, PDWP gave a go-ahead to an Rs.631.246 million plan to restructure a 17-kilometer stretch of road from Bahawalnagar to Arifwala tehsil.
The meeting also gave approval to the restoration of a 26-kilometer portion of the road from Chishtian to Haroonabad through Pull Murad costing more than Rs 1.387 billion in funds.
Read more: Punjab PDWP approved six development schemes at a cost of Rs 21.8 billion
In addition, other plans include the rehabilitation of the following road schemes in Punjab:
- 17-kilometer road from Minchinabad to Dhak Pattan Road at an expected cost of Rs 875.019 million
- 21-kilometer Luddan Karam Pur Road costing Rs670.67 million
- Widening of a 15-kilometer stretch of 20′ to 24′-wide Vehari-Mailsi-Khoror Pacca-Lodhran Road costing Rs 996,831 million.
- Rehabilitation of a 48-kilometer Shujabad to Jalalpur Pirwala road for over Rs 2.525 billion.
Moreover, the rainy season has adversely damaged the road infrastructure of Karachi, stimulating the provincial government and local administration to set aside Rs 3.5 billion for its repairs.
In this regard, a review meeting was held chaired by city administrator Murtaza Wahab. He stated, “Due to the effects of climate change, there has been more than usual rainfall across the world, for which no country, including Pakistan, is prepared. Karachi’s roads will be reconstructed at a cost of Rs 3.5 billion.”
Informing about the breakdown of funds, the city administrator specified that the government will utilize Rs 2.5 billion on road repair, and assign the remaining to the flood victims. He noted that the government has 157 new projects in the pipeline to optimize the city infrastructure.
Wahab also noted that poor drainage is the main issue that causes several million in losses to personal and state properties. Addressing and resolving the drainage issues is on the government’s immediate agenda, he added.
