SARGODHA: The Punjab government has accorded an approval for the establishment of Sargodha Development Authority (SDA) which will pave the way for development in the city.

This was stated by Sargodha Commissioner Nadeem Mehboob while talking to reporters here on Thursday.

He said a feasibility report about setting up of a wildlife park over 24 acres of land adjacent to Model Town had been sent to the Punjab government.

The commissioner said that funds, on the recommendation of a parliamentarian, were being allocated for the construction and repair of the Lahore-Sargodha Road linking the city and other adjacent villages with the Sial Mor Motorway Interchange.

Mr Mehboob said that an inspection team had been constituted for monitoring the standard of ongoing development schemes and ensuring removal of defects of 35 development schemes with the help of contractors concerned.

He said that 11 rehabilitation centers had been set up in Sargodha, Khushab, Bhakkar and Mianwali with the assistance of the Literacy Department to ensure education of children of gypsies to make them useful citizens.

The commissioner said initially 250 children would be educated in these centres while the government would provide them uniform, books, bags and stationery free of cost.

He said special programmes of basic education and technical training would be launched for the betterment of transgender people.

Mr Mehboob said the condition of educational institutions and hospitals would also be improved.

He said an emergency unit would be set up at the DHQ Hospital and a nursery unit at the Maula Bux Gynecology Hospital had been upgraded while new blocks would also be built there.

The commissioner said that medical superintendents of the DHQ and other hospitals had been directed to ensure presence of doctors and free supply of medicines to patients.

He said a new security strategy for the entire Sargodha division had been formulated in view of the prevalent situation.

The commissioner said a new system of checking transport and its passengers had been introduced in Mianwali and Bhakkar which was helping in curtailing drug trafficking and terrorism.

He said the census process would be started in the Sargodha division from April 15 with the assistance of the army and education department and, for this purpose, at least 400 circles had been formed.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2017