GUJRAT, Sept 22: The PML-N’s Gujrat-based legislators have been assured of a development package of at least Rs3.1 billion by the Punjab chief minister, as various government departments have proposed at least a dozen new mega uplift schemes.

Reliable sources revealed the legislators were feeling embarrassed before their supporters that make them feel deprived since none of them had representation in the federal or provincial cabinets.

This is for the first time in four decades that any ruling party had overruled the induction of a Gujrat-based parliamentarian in the cabinet. A local party leader while commenting on the situation said it was “painful” for the lawmakers of Gujrat that the chief minister had appointed Manshaullah Butt, an MPA from Sialkot who had won in the recent by-elections, to deal with affairs of party legislators from Gujrat.

Official sources told Dawn CM Shahbaz Sharif in a bid to pacify the party’s parliamentarians from Gujrat had directed the district administration and legislators to propose development schemes in their respective constituencies that could make the main arteries of their areas attractive, besides helping in image building.

District government officials and PML-N legislators compiled their suggestions for development schemes and it was learnt that the proposals as well as running costs were estimated to be at least Rs3.1 billion.

A special follow-up meeting of the ruling party’s parliamentarians and officials of the district government was held here with Manshaullah Butt, public affairs committee member at the CM’s Secretariat and coordinator to the Punjab CM, in the chair.

Gujrat DCO Asif Bilal Lodhi, DPO Ali Nasir Rizvi, MNAs Nawabzada Mazhar Ali Khan, Jafar Iqbal Fatta Bhand, Abid Raza; MPAs Imran Zafar, Nawabzada Haider Mehdi, Ashraf Deona, Moin Nawaz Warraich; former MNA Jamil Awan, Nawabzada Tahirul Mulk, District Officer (Coordination) Shuja Qutab Bhatti, Gujrat TMA Administrator Farooq Rasheed and others were also present in the meeting.

Sources privy to the meeting said PML-N leaders stressed the completion of ongoing mega schemes in their constituencies besides allocation of funds for uplift projects that had been pledged by the party during its election campaign in the district. It was learnt that the oldest Defence Road passing from Kharian to Jalalpur Jattan had been put on priority since reconstruction and widening of this strategically and publicly important road had been a longstanding demand of the people of the area.Construction of a new double track on Gujrat to Jalalpur Jattan road had also been planned since traffic on this road had increased manifold. Also, entire portion of old GT Road passing through the city from Rehmania Bridge to the Kathala railway crossing would be carpeted.

A new park would be established near the Chenab’s oldest bridge in Kathala besides rehabilitation and upgrading of the existing Nawaz Sharif Park in the city. Gujrat city’s parking plaza that was started a year ago and was halted due to paucity of funds would also be given priority in issuance of remaining funds.

A district government official told Dawn Rs3.1 billion were required for planned uplift projects besides completion of ongoing schemes and MPA Manshaullah Butt had assured participants of the meeting of the Punjab government’s complete support for the development of Gujrat.

OVERSEAS: The district government has established an overseas help desk for assistance and guidance of expatriate Pakistanis belonging to Gujrat district.

Gujrat DCO Asif Lodhi told a delegation of overseas Pakistanis that called on him at the district government complex.

Commending the role of expatriates for economic uplift of their motherland, the DCO pledged to provide all-out help of the district government for the resolution of any problems they were facing.

Earlier, the delegation members apprised the DCO of their problems, especially matters related to land revenue records and also presented suggestions for better coordination between the expatriate community and the district government.

Lodhi told the delegation the record was being computerised and would be completed by June next year after which complaints of illegal occupation of land and property would be addressed.

The DCO also said an online system for registration of necessary details of overseas Pakistanis had already been launched. He added the expatriates should get themselves registered in that system, whereas online details of courts of the district government officials would also be available online.