Model village ban lifted

ISLAMABAD — After about four years, the government of Pakistan’s eastern province of Punjab has lifted a ban on the model village project launched by the previous PML-Q government in Rawalpindi district in the province and directed the city district government to complete the unfinished work within two months.

Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani’s village Manghot in Gujar Khan was also among the villages included in the project.

The other villages were Deval and Eliot in Murree, Gorra Sangori in Gujar Khan, Damial in Rawalpindi and two villages in Kotli Sattian.

The Rs 490 million ($5.44 million) model village project was launched in 2006 but after the 2008 elections the new chief minister, Shahbaz Sharif, imposed a ban on it.

Later, the PML-Q-LED city government sought release of funds to complete the remaining 50 per cent work on the project but the provincial government turned it down.

However, in a surprise move two days back the PML-N provincial government issued a letter to the city government to utilise the Rs 120 million to complete the project. Upon this, the local government has started paperwork.

According to the plan, the eight villages would be turned into model villages at a cost of Rs 80 million each.

The uplift works will include construction of roads and streets, boundary walls in graveyards, upgradation of schools, water supply schemes, construction of playgrounds and technical training centres.

Sources said the city government would demand extra money from the provincial government as the project cost had increased due to surge in the prices of construction materials.

Former railway minister had launched a number of development projects in the city, including $200 million worth of Leh Nullah Expressway, $22.22 million for mother and child hospital at Asghar Mall Road, two women colleges in Saddar and Dhoke Ratta and a slaughter house at Railway Road.

However, all these schemes remain unfinished even after about four years. When contacted, District Co-ordination Officer Saqib Zafar said the city government had requested the provincial government to utilise the funds for model village project. — Internews