RAWALPINDI, Dec 23: The city district government on Tuesday approved over Rs26 billion funds for various development projects.

City Nazim Raja Javed Ikhlas, who is also the chairman of Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), approved the funds while chairing a high-level meeting at the RDA offices.

The meeting approved Rs21 billion for the Expressway that would be built from Flashman’s Hotel to Faizabad.

Besides other projects, funds were also okayed for launching a housing society by the RDA.

The meeting also identified a piece of land for the much talked about Industrial Zone in Rawalpindi that would be set up near Rawat. This is for the first time that the Punjab government has formally directed the local authorities to start work on the zone.

It was also decided that a parking plaza would be built near Raja Bazaar in order to solve the parking problem.

The RDA would acquire the land for the proposed construction and also float tenders this month.

RDA Director Administration Raja Shaukat Mehmood told Dawn that for the first time since its inception, the RDA has approved landmark construction projects in the city. He hoped that the proposed projects would be completed in the stipulated time.

Mr Mehmood said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was providing hefty funds to civic agencies in order to ensure that no project was impeded by shortage of funds.