FAISALABAD, Jan 8: A huge sum of Rs550 million is lying unutilized in the accounts of Citizens Community Boards of the Tehsil Municipal Administration (city) and if the business community shows some interest, this unused amount could change the city outlook.
This was claimed by TMA Nazim Haji Ilyas Ansari while speaking to members of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) here on Thursday. He said that under the devolution of power plan, the government had announced a number of revolutionary steps to change the lifestyle of people as well as to provide them all possible facilities.
The motive behind the introduction of Citizens Community Board, he claimed, was the involvement of the general public in the work of government agencies. He said local councils were provided huge amounts under the head of CCBs, but the plan could not be materialized in letter and spirit for lack of public interest. He said the TMA had Rs550 million in its CCBs' accounts, but it had not received a single development scheme from any quarter so far.
The TMA (City) in its tenure, he said, had launched scores of development projects worth Rs2 billion in all parts of the city. Highlighting the problems faced by the city traders, FCCI President Mian Aftab Ahmed demanded immediate construction of a mega project of the yarn market outside the Aminpur Bazaar.
MILESTONE: Provincial Communication and Works Minister Chaudhry Zaheeruddin Khan has said the agreement between India and Pakistan to restart dialogues over all issues will be a milestone between the two countries' relations.
In a statement issued here on Thursday, the minister said that President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali had made frantic efforts for the success of the Saarc Summit to eliminate the region from the menaces of terrorism and poverty.
The decision to start the process of dialogues between the two countries would not only open new ways of progress for both the countries but also result in resolving the Kashmir issue, he said.
PLAN FINALIZED: A comprehensive plan has been finalized to arrest the upward trend of highway robberies and dacoities under which 26 police check posts will be set up in Faisalabad, Jhang and Toba Tek Singh districts.
This was stated by Faisalabad Range DIG Abid Saeed while talking to newsmen here on Thursday.The DIG said that in the light of instructions from Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi, important points for setting up 26 police patrolling check posts in the three districts of the Faisalabad range had been identified. A huge amount of Rs63.440 million would be spent on the construction and provision of other facilities at these check posts.
He said that 12 check posts would be set up at Aminpur By-Pass, Roshanwali Jhal, Pansera Chowk, Jhal Chowk in Tandlianwala, Kamalpur Inter-change Service Road, Buchiana, Asgharabad near Khurrianwala, Peropianpul in Chak Jhumra, Palioni in Jaranwala, Samundri, Khidderwala and Jattuwana Bangla in the Faisalabad district.
Similarly, he said that 11 check posts would be set up at Sarmuradwala Jhok Morh in Chiniot, Riazabad in Lalian, Bong Shumali, Chimarwani, Mochiwala, Ashaha Saddar, Mudhi Shah Sukheray, Athara Hazari, Pir Abdul Rehman, Haveli Bahadar Shah, and Shorkot in the Jhang district. He said three important sites had been selected for check posts in the Toba Tek Singh district.
The DIG claimed that experienced, skilled and capable staff would be appointed on these check posts which would ensure round-the-clock patrolling on highways.