LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif presided over a high level meeting which reviewed the pace of progress on ongoing projects of energy and infrastructure in the province.
Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said energy projects are being implemented expeditiously maintaining transparency and high standard and no compromise is being made on this score.
He said that funds of billions of rupees are being provided for infrastructure development in the province. He said that 1320-megawatt Sahiwal Coal Power Project will start production in 2017 and work is in progress on the project round the clock.
Shahbaz Sharif said the government has saved Rs 110 billion in three gas based energy projects about which no precedent is available in the history.
Meanwhile, Shahbaz Sharif while reviewing pace of Orange Line Metro Train Project at a high level meeting here yesterday directed the authorities to ensure safety of the citizens during construction work of the project.
The chief minister also directed the authorities not to cause any damage to the historic buildings and sites that come in the route of the project. He said Metro Train is a unique and the biggest project of Pakistani that will provide highly comfortable, economical and respectable transport facilities to the citizens.
The chief minister who is himself supervising the project strictly wanted quality construction of its structure and other parts for which he also directed the relevant steering committee for maintaining round the clock monitoring of the pace and standards being observed in the project.
The Committee will also take decisions where it would feel necessity. The Chief Minister also directed the builders to adopt foolproof arrangements to ensure protection of citizens during the construction work, particularly at night. He said besides protective arrangements for the workers engaged on the project, first aid points should also be set up,
The chief minister further said that effective arrangements should be made for maintaining smooth flow of traffic on the route of Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project. He said that an effective traffic management system should be implemented for the convenience of citizens. He said that Chief Traffic Officer should personally review traffic arrangements on the route.
Also, the Punjab government has announced Rs five lakh compensation for heirs of the citizen who lost his life through hit of a machine being used in Orange Line Metro Train project.
This financial assistance will be over and above that of Rs 20lkh which the contractor of the project will pay to the bereaved family. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has directed the concerned authorities to ensure payment of the financial assistance by tomorrow.