Chief Minister Punjab Parvez Elahi approves ‘Sutlej Indus Economic Network Project’ for Kasur, Okara, Pakpattan, Vehari, Bahawalnagar, Lodhran, Bahawalpur.
Lahore
Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Parvez Elahi Monday announced the biggest historic project of development of Punjab from Sutlej to Sindh and said that a plan has been devised to connect different cities with the motorway.
“The project will also generate millions of dollars and a new chapter of development and prosperity will open for farmers, traders, industrialists and investors,” he said.
Chief Minister approved Rs.160 billion worth of the Sutlej Indus Economic Network Project (SIEN) for Kasur, Okara, Pakpattan, Vehari, Bahawalnagar, Lodhran, Bahawalpur that would be completed in different phases. These districts will be connected with motorways, GT roads and Indus Highway.
While giving details in a meeting, the CM explained that in the first phase, the Kasur bypass to Lahore Ring Road G-1 SIEN Corridor will be completed with Rs.15 billion. Seven remote districts of Punjab will be connected with M-2, M-3, M-4, M-5 and M-11 motorways. He said that access to 49% of commodity-producing markets will be improved through highways. Further, 3431 industrial units of food, agriculture and metal products will be promoted in these districts as business activities in 9 towns and small towns will be increased.
Parvez Elahi said that the North-South Corridor will connect Depalpur, Pakpattan, Vehari, Multan Road, Head Sulemanki Minchinabad, Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar Road. Changara East Interchange will be connected up to Bahawalpur N-5. Meanwhile, Hasilpur will be connected with Rajana Motorway M-3 through Vehari, Burewala and Chichhwatani. Chishtian to Burewala and Sahiwal to Samundri link road will be built. Bahawalnagar to Sahiwal will be connected with M-3 Motorway via Arifwala. SIEN Corridor will also be constructed from Minchinabad to Sahiwal via Pakpattan.
Allahabad will be connected to the Jaranwala Interchange M-3 Motorway through Chunian, Pattoki and Halla. Sharqpur Interchange M-3 Motorway will be connected with Raiwind Road Ring Road.
Due to the development and creation of employment opportunities in the backward and remote districts, the pressure on the big cities will be reduced, he noted.
The establishment of specialized potato machinery centers in Pakpattan and Okara will provide economic benefits to potato farmers. By installing solar dryers and color sorters in Bahawalnagar, red chili farmers will be able to get a better price for the crop. Vehari Industrial Estate will be converted into Agro-Industrial Park. Economic activities will increase in Kasur Small Industrial Estate and Dry Port.
He said that a multi-modal freight terminal will be established in Pakpattan. Agro-industrial parks will be established in Bahawalnagar and Okara, he added.
Chief Secretary Abdullah Khan Sumbal, former federal secretary and Chairman of Planning and Development Board Salman Ghani, Secretary C&W, Secretary Planning and Development, Secretary Transport, Secretary Finance, Senior Specialist Economics Urban Unit and others attended the meeting. (PR)
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