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LAHORE: The Punjab government has approved 25 development schemes with the cost of Rs 165 billion across various sectors with most projects falling under the Punjab Development Programme (PDP). These initiatives aim to enhance infrastructure, improve public services, and support economic development across different regions of Punjab. In this connection, Planning and Development (P&D) Board Chairman Rafaqat Ali chaired a meeting of the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) on Friday. The meeting was attended by the Chief Economist, P&D Board members, and representatives from relevant departments. During the meeting, several projects received approval, including: Chief Minister’s Punjab schools meal programme (revised) at an estimated cost of Rs 6,998 million; establishment of aquaculture malls in Punjab (Revised) at an estimated cost of Rs 4,168.127 million; and establishment of Shrimp Farms in Rakh Aiiwal, Muzaffargarh, at an estimated cost of Rs 10,000 million. The Provincial Development Working Party also approved multiple schemes under the Punjab Development Programme. For Faisalabad, the approved projects include improvement and rehabilitation of sewerage/drainage system in the eastern part of Faisalabad City at an estimated cost of Rs 5,749 million; and improvement and rehabilitation of sewerage/drainage system and water supply distribution in the western part of Faisalabad City at an estimated cost of Rs 7,005 million. In Sahiwal, the PDP projects approved include improvement of sewerage, storm water drainage system, street pavements, and allied infrastructure in north zone (sub-zones A, B, C) and improvement of sewerage, storm water drainage system, street pavements, and allied infrastructure in south zone (sub-zones D, E) at an estimated cost of Rs 8,696 million and Rs 3,449 million, respectively. Five development schemes relating to the PDP for Gujranwala were approved comprising providing/laying of sewerage/drainage in Zone-I at an estimated cost of Rs 8,109 million; providing/laying of sewerage/drainage in Zone-II at an estimated cost of Rs 8,491 million; providing/laying of sewerage/drainage in Zone-III at an estimated cost of Rs 8,202 million; providing/laying of sewerage/drainage in Zone-IV at an estimated cost of Rs 9,024 million; and procurement and installation of generators and sewer cleaning machinery for WASA Gujranwala at an estimated cost of Rs 1,110 million. For Multan, the meeting approved six schemes falling under the jurisdiction of PDP. Among these schemes are augmentation and rehabilitation of disposal stations (Phase-II) of WASA Multan at an estimated cost of Rs 4,700 million; replacement of outlived sewerage in Multan City (Phase-III), WASA Multan, at an estimated cost of Rs 3,800 million; establishment of sewerage system in Jahangirabad in Multan and adjoining areas, including Jahangirabad Disposal Station, at an estimated cost of Rs 4,500 million; augmentation and rehabilitation of disposal stations (Phase-III), WASA Multan, at an estimated cost of Rs 5,500 million; replacement of outlived sewerage in Multan City (Phase-IV), WASA Multan, at an estimated cost of Rs 4,600 million; and provision of sewerage services in unserved areas of Multan City at an estimated cost of Rs 4,200 million. Two PDP development schemes are approved for Sheikhupura City, including improvement of sewerage, storm water drainage system, street pavements, and allied infrastructure in Zone-A at an estimated cost of Rs 9,345 million, and improvement of sewerage, storm water drainage system, street pavements, and allied infrastructure in Zone-B at an estimated cost of Rs 8,000 million. For Sialkot, two PDP schemes got the green signal, including improvement of sewerage, storm water drainage system, street pavements, and allied infrastructure in Zone-I at an estimated cost of Rs 9,941 million, and improvement of sewerage, storm water drainage system, street pavements, and allied infrastructure in Zone-II at an estimated cost of Rs 9,994 million. The meeting also approved two PDP development schemes for Rawalpindi: improvement and remodelling of sewerage, drainage, and storm water drains system on the western side, WASA Rawalpindi, at an estimated cost of Rs 7,940 million; and improvement/remo delling of water supply system in WASA Rawalpindi at an estimated cost of Rs. 5,002 million Lastly, for Nankana Sahib City, one PDP scheme was approved: improvement of sewerage, storm water drainage system, street pavements, and allied infrastructure at an estimated cost of Rs 6,000 million. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
