SAHIWAL, Jan 9: Around 340 development schemes worth Rs1.15 billion are under way in Sahiwal division under the Punjab government’s Special District Package (SDP).

These schemes had been launched for improvement of health, education, sewerage, construction of link roads and availability of clean drinking water to villages, and would be completed in two months.

Commissioner Barrister Nabeel Awan revealed this while briefing the media in his office on Wednesday.

The commissioner said the Punjab government had already released Rs420 million for development schemes, which were 70 per cent complete.

While elaborating district-wise details of the SDP, he said Sahiwal district had been released Rs420 million for 162 development schemes, Okara district Rs370 million for 100 schemes and Pakpattan district Rs360 million for 78 schemes.

The commissioner directed construction and repair of all link or new roads under the SDP must be completed until Jan 20. “These roads must open to traffic,” he added. He asked all relevant departments to maintain construction quality, saying the taxpayers’ money must be spent properly.