FAISALABAD, Feb 27: Development schemes worth over Rs1.75 billion have been chalked out by the Lyallpur Town administration to get a formal approval from President Gen Pervez Musharraf during his forthcoming visit to the city.

Talking to the press here on Monday, Lyallpur Town Nazim Rana Zahid Mehmood said the president would visit Faisalabad in the first week of next month and announce a major district uplift plan worth over Rs15 billion.

He said towns administration had been asked by the district government to finalize their schemes so that a joint package could be got approved from the president. The Lyallpur Town administration prepared various schemes worth Rs1.75 billion after detailed discussions with the officials concerned as well as requirements of the people in coming years.

He said under the proposed plan, Faisalabad-Sargodha road up to the Motorway interchange would be constructed in six lanes, while footpaths would be built along the road with a total estimated cost of Rs192 million. All shops and commercial centres built on an open Wasa drain along the Circular road would be demolished to widen it with an expenditure of Rs27 million. The affected shopkeepers would be given alternative places at an estimated cost of Rs257.8 million.

Rana Zahid said under the plan, Rs870 million would be spent on the construction of four parking plazas at the Montgomery bazaar, outside Chiniot bazaar, outside Karkhana bazaar and at the Aminpur bazaar to meet the rapidly increasing traffic requirements of the city around Clock Tower.

He said the only Ladies park of the city would be developed with facilities of a family restaurant, swimming pool, beauty parlour, exhibition centres and tuck shops with an estimated cost of Rs45 million. Similarly, the Jinnah garden would be modernized by spending Rs70 million.

He said 10 busy intersections of Lyallpur Town would be redesigned and converted into beautiful spots with an expenditure of Rs50 million.

He said all the proposed schemes would be forwarded to the city district government, the Punjab government and the President’s Secretariat till March 2 for formal approval.