GUJRAT: Prime Minister Imran Khan is scheduled to address a public meeting at the Quaid-e-Azam Stadium, Mandi Bahauddin, on Friday (tomorrow).

Official sources say the public meeting is being organised by Mandi Bahauddin chapter of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI).

The sources say the PM will also unveil a Rs30 billion mega uplift package for at least 80 development schemes in the MB district.

These schemes, they say, include Rs6 billion campus of the Punjab University of Technology at Rasul, Rs1bn project of establishment of a new district headquarters (DHQ) hospital, a 45km-long dual carriageway from Mandi Bahauddin city to the GT Road, Sara I Alamgir, worth around Rs7bn, a sub campus of University of Gujrat (UoG) and some other projects.

It is pertinent to mention that Mandi Bahauddin is the native district of political stalwarts like Nazar Muhammad Gondal and Nadeem Afzal Chan, who have joined ruling PTI, leaving the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

The district had once been a bastion of the PPP that had clinched all the seven seats – two of the National Assembly (NA) and five of the Punjab Assembly (PA) seats – there in 2008 elections.

Meanwhile, Mandi Bahauddin Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Shahid has announced a local holiday on Friday on account of the scheduled visit of the prime minister to the town.

However, the DC’s notification says that the staff of Rescue 1122, land revenue department, civil defense, health department and police would remain on duty.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2022