November 18, 2007	Sunday	Ziqa’ad 07, 1428

RAWALPINDI, Nov 17: The blurry Rs5.14 billion Rawalpindi Environment Improvement Project (REIP) is likely to be given a boost shortly to get mileage for the outgoing Punjab government, it has been learnt.

The provincial government on the eve of its dissolution passed the orders to materialise some of the core REIP components ahead of the general elections scheduled for early January.

Ambitiously looking forward to serving another term in power, the political players want the Rawalpindi population to reap the rewards of the already delayed mega project before they cast their votes.

In order to review the progress, Punjab Secretary for Housing and Urban Development Khizar Hayat Gondal on Saturday held an unusual meeting with the project executors at the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) offices.

The official directed the authorities to expedite the pace of work and complete the important components shortly. Earlier, he was given a briefing by REIP Project Director Brig (retired) Shahrukh Lodhi.

Sources told Dawn that Mr Gondal emphasised on the completion of certain schemes including the American-style public toilets, replacement of sewage pipelines and construction of a sewage treatment plant at Adiala. The secretary is also said to have given the deadline of February.

The sources said that Mr Gondal told the meeting that he himself would regularly review the progress so that the work could be completed within the stipulated time.

This is for the first time since the project launch in 2003 that a provincial bureaucrat has taken keen interest in the early completion of the environment project, as there was no such kind of emphasis in the last four years.

The REIP project director, when contacted, told this reporter that contracts for the upcoming work would be awarded to committed parties capable of executing the schemes on modern lines.

Assuring use of quality material, he said no compromise would be made on standard during speedy completion of the project.

The meeting was also attended by City Nazim Raja Javed Ikhlas, RDA Director General Brig (retired) Pervez Mehmood Khan, Wasa Managing Director Lt-Col (retired) Islamul Haq and other officials of the REIP’s Project Management Unit.

Meanwhile, the Punjab secretary also visited the Rawal Lake Filtration Plant and directed Wasa to make arrangements for the plant’s maintenance in order to provide safe drinking water to the Rawalpindi residents.