MULTAN, June 21: The Punjab chief minister's advisor on agriculture, Jehangir Khan Tareen, kicked off work on the restoration of infrastructure at the Multan Industrial Estate (MIE) here on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, he said the Punjab government had initiated restoration of various industrial estates in the province in collaboration with the private sector through the Punjab Industrial Estates Development and Management Company.

He said the up-keeping and development work at the MIE had not been done for the last 30 years. The restoration of the industrial infrastructure through public-private partnership was being launched from Multan with a sum of Rs100 million on experimental basis.

The venture would be expanded to other areas after the successful completion of the Multan project, he said. MIE association president Tahir Zaidi said the construction of 13 kilometre roads and sewerage system would cost Rs65 million and Rs61.1 million, respectively.

Talking to newsmen, Mr Tareen said that a private firm - Punjab social security and health management company - had been awarded contracts to construct a 100-bed hospital each at Muzaffargarh, Sheikhupura and Manga Mandi.

He said a firm was also being established for the marketing of agricultural produce. Elaborating the idea, he said the firm would establish commodity markets and commodity exchanges in various parts of the province. Initially, the firm would initiate wheat marketing and then cotton. State minister for food, agriculture and livestock Sikander Hayat Bosan was also present on the occasion.