LAHORE: The District Development Working Party (DDWP) of Multan on Monday approved two development projects, namely upgrade of the Nishtar Road into a health corridor and the establishment of a library cafe at Qila Kuhna Qasim Bagh.

Commissioner Aamir Karim Khan chaired the meeting to convert Nishtar Road into a health corridor at a cost of over Rs316m. The officials presented a traffic and mobility plan to improve access to the Nishtar Hospital where a large number of patients and attendants arrive daily.

Under the project, the Nishtar Road will undergo rehabilitation, including carpeting, a drainage system, footpaths and safety measures. A parking system based on the model of the Lahore Parking Company will be introduced while plaza owners have been directed to keep parking areas open to manage the traffic flow. The plan includes walkways, bridge work, streetlights, signage and dividers.

The officials say congestion on the road has affected ambulance movement and access to the hospital. The project is expected to improve response time for emergency services.

Construction will begin after completion of a Wasa scheme involving installation of a sewerage line from District Jail to Al-Khaliq Medical Centre. The commissioner directed the departments concerned to follow timelines and ensure standards in execution.

In the same meeting, a project worth Rs39m was approved to set up a library cafe at Qila Kuhna Qasim Bagh to facilitate the visitors and promote public use of the site.

According to officials, the project includes a reading space inside the municipal library and a cafe outside for visitors. The plan aims at providing facilities for students, families and visitors at the site.

The commissioner issued directions for start of tendering process, saying that the project should be completed by the end of June. Work will start after completion of an ongoing Wasa scheme in the area. The cafe will be set up in the library veranda near the site’s structure. The plan also includes construction of a platform for birds to provide them with food and water.

The meeting was attended by Director Development Mubashir Rehman, CEO Municipal Corporation Iqbal Khan, Medical Superintendent Nishtar Hospital Dr Rao Amjad, officials of the highways department and other officers.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2026