Southern Punjab's funds issued for expansion of roads in Lahore
Punjab CM approved Rs2 billion for expansion of various roads in provincial capital.
LAHORE (Daily Dunya) - Punjab government sneakily ratified decision to spend funds worth Rs2 billion on expansion of provincial capital’s roads that were previously allocated for 163 uplift projects in Southern part of province.
On order of high-level government official, Chairman P&D Punjab Muhammad Jahanzeb Khan and Secretary Finance crafted steps for removal of legal complications.
According to details, Phase-II project has been initiated in Lahore under which Canal Bank Road would be expanded from Thokar Niaz Beg to Doctor Hospital in first stage and then from Doctor Hospital to Mall road. Likewise, Mall Road would be expanded till Harbanspura.
As per investigation carried out by Roznama Dunya, Punjab CM approved Rs2 billion for expansion of various roads in provincial capital aiming at reduction of traffic miseries.
Rs5.12 billion were approved for same scheme by Chairman P&D during sitting of provincial development board and Rs1.40 billion were approved in fiscal year 2015-16 from supplementary grants for which Punjab CM relaxed rules.
No budget was allocated for said scheme in budget of current fiscal year and decision was made that part of expenditures on expansion of roads would be bear by Punjab government and rest would be bear by Lahore Development Authority (LDA).
Punjab government, in a sitting, decided that it would manage expenditures for above mentioned project by cutting uplift funds of various ongoing schemes which includes construction and maintenance of roads, hospitals, schools, colleges and sewerage system in Layyah, Rajanpur, DG Khan, Bahawalnagar, Vehari and Khanewal districts of Southern Punjab.
When contacted, officials of P&D department said that they could not provide any details pertaining to issuance of funds for expansion of roads whereas Finance Department Punjab narrated that funds were issued after formal approval of summary by Punjab CM.
