SAHIWAL: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar says the Harappa civilisation and archaeological sites have strong potential to attract international tourists who will be provided with the state-of-the-art facilities covering comfortable local travel, accommodation and food.

Speaking during a visit to the Harappa Museum, Buzdar announced a grant of Rs55 million for the construction of a new [museum] building and a modern display gallery.

The CM announced Rs500m grant for the construction of [railway] underpass near the Harappa railway station. Buzdar announced Rs1 billion grant for developing new sewerage and clean drinking water facilities for Harappa city.

Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar was also present on the occasion who promised that a water filtration plant would also be installed on the premises of the museum.

Earlier, both the dignitaries were informed that around 25,000 artifacts were presently housed in Harappa museum. Of them, only 5,000 pieces were on display for lack of space.

After Harappa, the CM reached the Chichawatni THQ Hospital and announced a Rs300m grant for hospital upgrade.

Rs3bn package for Chichawatni; new Harappa museum to cost Rs55m

On Tuesday, after arrival from Lahore by road, the CM reached the Commissioner Office and chaired a high-level meeting which was attended by PTI parliamentarians, ticket holders, divisional [PTI] office-bearers. The meeting continued for three hours and the CM personally took notes of each suggestion given to him.

The chief minister assured the participants that their demands would be addressed on a priority basis.

He announced a 128-bed cardiology block worth Rs5.5bn at the DHQ teaching hospital. Buzdar announced connecting Sahiwal with the Lahore-Multan motorway by linking Rajana, Kamalia and Chichawatni through express highway.

He also announced development of a small industrial estate on 800 acres at Chichawatni tehsil.

On his way to Chichawatni city, he stopped at a roadside and listened to people’s problems.

The CM exchanged his personal cell number with a female patient at the Chichawatni THQ Hospital for redressal of her [medical] grievances. The chief minister announced a [separate] Rs1bn package for NA-148 constituency.

During the two-day visit, MPAs Nouman Langrial, Samsam Bokhari, MNA Rai Murtaza Iqbal, Rai Hasan Nawaz, Shakeel Khan Niazi, Ali Nouraz Shakoor, CM Adviser on Tourism and Youth Affairs Asif Mahmood and Punjab Overseas Pakistani Commission Chairman Waseem Akhter and officials accompanied the chief minister.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2021