LAHORE, April 24: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi announced here on Sunday the construction of a new stadium, mainly for horse and cattle shows, near Harbanspura on the GT Road. The Lahore Stadium would be built over 736 kanals to provide recreational facilities to the people and promote sports and cultural activities, the chief minister said while presiding over a meeting here.

He said the stadium would be a blend of traditional and modern architecture where the provincial government would hold the annual national horse and cattle shows in an organized way.

He said the foundation stone of the stadium would be laid soon and it would be built at a cost of around Rs1 billion out of which Rs100 million would be provided by the federal government.

The stadium, he said, would have a seating capacity for 40,000 people and separate enclosure for the press.

There would be separate place for industrial and social welfare exhibitions. Besides, it would also have commercial area to promote trade activities.

Pervaiz Elahi said cricket, polo, football and indoor games could be played at the stadium, which would have a multi-purpose sports complex. A joyland and a hotel would also be built near it.

The chief minister said the project would be completed jointly by the communication and works, industries, local government, social welfare and sports departments. Chief Secretary Kamran Rasool informed the officials that the land selected for the stadium best suited the purpose because of its location.