SIALKOT, May 8: The federal government has sanctioned a grant of Rs80 million for the uplift of the district under city development package.

This was stated by district Nazim Mian Naeem Javed while speaking at a gathering of Nazimeen, their deputies and councillors here on Wednesday.

The Nazim said the government was taking interest in converting Sialkot to a model district. Several projects to uplift rural localities were already underway, he added.

He said the government had given final approval of reconstruction of Sialkot-Daska-Gujranwala and Sialkot-Sambrial roads, adding several main roads would soon be converted into dual carriageways with an expenditures of Rs30 million.

He maintained the timely completion of this grand project would open an era of development in the region and it would boost trade ties with other countries. He believed work on roads would also help reduce traffic load.

Mr Javed claimed the district government was preparing a strategy for developing agri-based and small industries in Sialkot’s remote areas.

The provincial government had also planned to construct 175-km link roads in the district’s rural areas with the financial assistance of the Asian Development Bank.

Local businessmen and philanthropists had donated Rs50 million for the promotion of quality education in the district, he concluded.