June 25, 2007	Monday	Jamadi-us-Sani 09, 1428

LAHORE, June 24: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi on Sunday inaugurated work on Bakar Mandi and reviewed various uplift projects in the city, saying the Pakistan Muslim League was committed to public service.

Addressing a public meeting after inaugurating Bakar Mandi at Shahpur Kanjran here, the chief minister said the government was speedily implementing mega projects and bringing about improvement in infrastructure, said an official handout.

He said the government was spending record funds on the promotion of education, health, tourism, sports and other sectors so that the living standard of the masses could be raised.

He also laid foundation stone of a slaughterhouse at Shahpur Kanjran.

The chief minister also visited Gulzar underpass at canal which would link Muslim Town and Garden Town. He also inspected Thokar Niaz Beg flyover to be built at a cost of Rs1 billion, ordering its completion within three months.

The chief minister said Gulzar underpass would be completed within 90 days at a cost of Rs450 million.

He said the trees removed from the both sides of the canal would be transplanted at other places with the help of modern machinery. He pledged that not a single tree would be wasted in the process. He said the Parks and Horticulture Authority would be responsible for safe tree transplant.

The chief minister said the widening of Bhaikewal Chowk had been completed at a cost of Rs60 million within a record time. He announced provision of tubewell and sewerage for the area. He said the widening of Bhaikewal Chowk would solve the longstanding traffic problem in the area.

He said relocation of Bakar Mandi and slaughterhouse would save the people from pollution and diseases. He said the projects at Shahpur Kanjran would be completed at a cost of Rs250 million out of which the Punjab government had already provided Rs30 million and 717 kanals of land, whereas Rs70 million more would be given soon.

He said the Bakar Mandi and slaughterhouse would be constructed and run on modern lines which would help promote the livestock sector and control cattle theft. He said hygienic and low-cost meat would be made available to the Lahorites after completion of Bakar Mandi.

He said the government was encouraging establishment of big department stores with the public-private partnership and international companies like Makro and Matro were setting up their outlets in the city. The companies, he said, would also provide guidance to farmers about crops, generate job opportunities, reduce poverty and help increase exports of fruit, agriculture and other produce.

He said it would also help enhance per-acre yield, besides reducing the prices of daily commodities substantially.

The chief minister also visited some localities in UCs 113, 118 and 119 and inaugurated projects for provision of basic amenities to the residents of these areas.