LAHORE, June 24: The Punjab government has approved upgrading of a district headquarters hospital and construction of nine roads in eight districts at an estimated cost of Rs8,853.468 million (Rs8.85 billion).

Planning and Development Board Chairman Javaid Aslam presided over the 45th meeting of the Provincial Development Working Party that approved the schemes for Vehari, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Pakpattan, Layyah, Jhang, Bahawalpur and Multan districts, said a spokesman on Sunday.

The Vehari DHQ Hospital would be upgraded from 125 to 300 beds at the cost of Rs512.50 million.

The schemes for Sheikhupura district included dualisation of Lahore-Jaranwala Road from Faizpur Interchange to Mandi Faizabad (32 kms) at the cost of Rs2,007.993 million; widening/improvement of 20km Sheikhupura to Sargodha Road (kilometres number 37 to 49.56 to 61.30 and 83.30 (20kms) at the cost of Rs927.341 million; dualisation of road from Sheikhupura to Gujranwala section Pir Bahar Shah Chowk to Motorway (4kms) at the cost of Rs324.118.000 million.

In Gujranwala district, Sheikhupura Road from GT Road to Khiali By-Pass Chowk (4.50 kms) would be constructed at the cost of Rs229.959 million.

For Pakpattan district, dualisation of road from Pull Rakh to Bijli Chowk, widening/improvement of road from Bijli Chowk to Darbar Hazrat Baba Farid with link road to city police station interchange City Road Darbar to Railway Crossing (7.35 km) would be carried out at the cost of Rs233.193 million.

Widening or improvement of Layyah-Garh Maharaja Road would be carried out in Layyah/Jhang district at the revised cost of Rs860.621 million while dualisation of Dehli-Multan Road from 37-Phatak to Thingi from km 584.00 to 586.90 to 594.20 (6.30 kms) in Vehari district would cost Rs233.367 million.

Widening or improvement of road from Bahawalpur Bypass to Chungi No.9 (5.21 kms) in Multan City would be carried out at the cost of Rs2,109.207 million, said the spokesman.