GUJRAT: The Punjab government has approved funds to conduct a feasibility study for the establishment of a 200-bed district headquarters DHQ hospital in Lalamusa, the second major town of Gujrat district.

Moreover, the federal and Punjab governments have also approved at least two mega uplift projects worth billions of rupees for Lalamusa in the development budget of the current fiscal year.

Official sources said these projects include the construction of Lalamusa bypass at a cost of Rs8 billion by the federal government whereas a sum of Rs500 million had been approved for the sewerage and water supply schemes in Lalamusa by the Punjab government.

An official of the local administration said the Punjab government had allocated a sum of Rs20 million in the current fiscal year’s uplift budget to conduct the feasibility study for the establishment of a DHQ Hospital in Lalamusa.

Adding, he said the contract might be awarded to a consultant firm to conduct thefeasibility of the hospital in the compound where Lalamusa Trauma Centre and Rural Health Center were currently in working condition whereas any other suitable location might also be suggested for the purpose.

The federal government on the other hand has approved the construction of Lalamusa bypass at a cost of Rs8bn and the project has been made the part of Public Sector Development Programme. A sum of Rs100m has initially been allocated for the project.

To improve the sewerage and drainage system of Lalamusa city, the Punjab government has approved different sewerage and water supply schemes costing of Rs500m.

Official sources said urban population residing in Lalamusa city’s areas like Main Bazaar, Qasba Mohallah, Dhama, Kareem Pura, Sardar Pura, Therian GT road and model school etc may benefit from the proposed sewerage scheme.

The schemes have been proposed by PML-N MNA Naseer Abbad Sidhu for the major urban centre of his constituency.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2025