FAISALABAD, July 9: The City District Government of Faisalabad has reportedly forwarded a “strategic developmental plan” of Rs87 billion to President Musharraf for formal approval and allocation of funds.

The development plan has been chalked out in the light of suggestions and recommendations of the people belonging to cross sections of society as well as survey reports conducted by various government agencies. The setting up of modern education institutions, health centres and vocational training centres and upgradation of civic infrastructure have been given maximum attention in this project.

A master plan was chalked out in 1992 by then divisional commissioner Tasneem M Noorani, which was implemented in phases but could not be completed in its true spirit owing to paucity of funds and variety of other reasons.

The plan for the upgrdation of the city and provision of civic amenities to the people had been finalised under the name of “strategic developmental plan”, and the same had been presented before Governor Khalid Maqbool during his Saturday visit to the city. The governor had termed the budget an “international document”, and appreciated the local administration for this effort.

Sources said the governor had verbally approved the development plan and assured to discuss the same with President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz for the allocation of huge funds.

DCO Azam Suleman Khan said the plan cost had been estimated in billions and the formula of public partnership involved to achieve the goal. One third of the total amount would be collected from the private sector, including banks and big business concerns, while the remaining amount would be shared by the federal, provincial and district governments.

He said Rs11,577.56 million had been estimated for central zone, Rs4,3596.3 million for the pre-central zone, Rs1,0804.5 million for the metropolitan zone and Rs7,474.39 million for the pre-urban zone.

“Under the plan, over 4,000km roads connecting various parts of the district will be reconstructed and upgraded, a new truck stand established on Sargodha Road, a parking plaza in the heart of the city besides 19km Khurrianwala bypass and 12km Chak Jhumra bypass roads. Faisalabad-Sangla Hill Road will be dualised while the general bus stand will be converted into a modern bus stand.”

He said through foreign investment, six mega projects would be started including setting up of a food street, a theme park, a golf course, a five-star hotel and housing schemes for the lower middle and elite classes.

He said tehsil headquarter hospitals of Jaranwala, Samundri and Tandlianwala would be upgraded up to 125 beds with modern medical facilities; a university of engineering would be set up in Khurrianwala; four new libraries would be set up in the city and industries would be shifted from Faisalabad to industrial zones outside the city within 18 months.