Lahore - Punjab government on Wednesday approved the construction of a 5-km long signal free corridor from Centre Point Gulberg to Defense More, Walton Road to improve the traffic flow in the city with the estimated cost of Rs2.80 billion in the ongoing Annual Development Plan. 

The approval was given in the 70th meeting of the Cabinet Standing Committee on Finance and Development presided over by the Punjab Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. Chief Secretary, Secretary Finance, Secretary Planning and Development and secretaries of relevant departments attended the meeting.

The project will be jointly carried out by the Punjab government and Lahore Development Authority. More than 18 recommendations from various departments were presented at the meeting while the majority of them were approved in the meeting. 

Further, the meeting also approved the BS-5 recruitments in the Katcha areas by the home department for counter terrorism in the area. The meeting also gave the nod for recruitments in the Child Protection Bureau. 

On the demand of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the meeting approved the lifting of the ban from hiring in the department and allowed recruitment of Grade-1 to Grade-15 employees in the authorities and working agencies attached to the department. 

Further, the irrigation department demanded of releasing of Rs55.989 million funds withheld in the financial year 2018-19 under the flood program was also approved. The Cabinet Committee was directed to take up the agenda of appointment of staff of the National Program for Water Course Improvement under the Annual Development Program. The Committee has approved inclusion of three new schemes of the communication and works department alongside sports department scheme of setting up of sports complex in Rahim Yar Khan in the Annual Development Program.

The Finance Department was given in principle approval of Technical Allowance for Engineers. The Provincial Minister directed the Planning and Development Department to review the scope of loan disbursement to Sialkot Ternary Zone instead of grant-in aid. Further, it was also instructed to provide technical allowance to the degree holders working in various departments as per the recommendations of the sub-committee. Earlier, Punjab Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht also met a delegation of Textile Mills Association at his camp office Punjab Revenue Authority. The provincial minister assured the association members that matters with the Federal government for supply of gas to the mills would be brought to a logical conclusion soon. “Industrial development and revival of exports is our top priority,” he said. With the increase in demand for gas in the winter season, domestic consumers are being given priority in view of complaints of shortage of supply. However, we have the right to protest against discrimination against Punjab in supply of gas to industries. Matters on supply of gas at uniform rate with improvement in supply from the federation will be discussed on the respective platforms, he assured.