PM approves development projects worth of billions of rupees 

Islamabad: Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has approved development projects worth of billions of rupees in five cities.

The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by the premier on plan for big cities.

According to sources, the funds for Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Multan will be released on mega-scale level. The Punjab government will plan for master planning of five cities.

Sources said that local government elections in Punjab are starting from May 15. The prime minister also sought details of possible mayors of the five cities from the party.

PM Imran Khan said that the government was laying special focus on the development of big cities as the real engines of growth for the national economy.

The prime minister directed the authorities concerned to take all possible measures to clear hiccups in the way of completion of various development schemes in big cities on priority basis in order to provide maximum relief to the residents.

The meeting was attended by Information Minister Ch Fawad Hussain, Industries Minister Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, and Planning Minister Asad Umar. Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood, Governor Punjab Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar and Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar joined the meeting via video link.

“Due to rural to urban areas migration, the cities are facing multiple challenges including housing, job opportunities and civic amenities are scarce. It is necessary that work on special development packages for the big cities must be accelerated,” the prime minister said during the meeting.

He also directed the authorities to work in close coordination and launch a concerted campaign for the uplift and development of big cities like Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Faisalsbad, Rawalpindi and Gujranwala.