as he inaugurated a multibillion-rupees development project in Lahore.Addressing the inauguration ceremony of River Ravi Urban Development Authority project on Friday, the premier said first two years of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government were very difficult, saying that his government protected the country from going default on debts.
“In the past, billions of rupees were spent on projects like Orange Line and Metro Bus which do not create wealth rather they are dependent on subsidies,” said PM Imran in an apparent jibe at the main opposition party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), which takes credit for initiating mass transit projects in Lahore.He said the Ravi project worth Rs5 trillion will create wealth and massive employment opportunities.“This project is essential for the survival of Lahore,” he said, adding that vertical expansion of the cities can resolve the growing urban challenges including exploding population and climate change.
The project was originally envisioned in 2013 by the Urban Unit, an urban sector planning arm of the provincial government, which is spread over 44,817 acres and will set a new centre of the city.It will have 14 zones, including residential, commercial, mix-use zones, medical city, forest reserve and central business district.The project is located in the districts of Lahore and Sheikhupura, run along the Ravi River in a northeast-southwest direction.
The documents highlighted that Lahore is the most urbanised and the most populated district compared to its neighbours – Sheikhupura and Kasur districts. The built-up ratio to open land in Lahore is approximately 50% whereas the cumulative built-up ratio in the remaining districts is less than 10%.
In this respect, the proposed project site is expected to bridge the gap between Lahore’s expansion towards the west and the district of Sheikhupura.
The prime minister also cautioned the Punjab government that it would face many challenges while completing this project and advised it not to give up come what may. “This project is very complicated or else it would have been built by now as it was started in 2004.”
