| Imran Khan says his govt to move Supreme Court against LHC’s decision | This time the case will be presented in a better manner
SHEIKHUPURA/ LAHOREÂ Â -Â Prime Minister Imran Khan said Friday that a modern and planned city Ravi Urban is being built under the multi-billion dollars Ravi Urban Development project.Â
While talking to reporters at Rakh Jhok Jungle at Sheikhupura on Friday, he said that this project is very crucial keeping in view the speedy growth of Lahore city and it will be the second planned city after Islamabad. He said that this $20 billion project will create a lot of new job opportunities and promote several sectors.
Friday’s visit of Prime Minister to the  project site comes barely a few days after the Lahore High Court declared the Ravi Urban Development project as illegal. The Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) was also directed to repay the Rs 5 billion loan it had acquired from the Punjab government.
PM Imran Khan also said that this project will also have a positive impact on environment protection and reduce pollution. He said that twenty million trees will be planted in the Rakh Jhok jungle under this project which will increase the underground water level besides saving river Ravi as well. He said that the media should create awareness amongst the public about this project.
Prime Minister also said his government would invoke jurisdiction of the Supreme Court after the High Court nullified the Ravi Urban Development Project. “We need to set up new cities in view of the growing population,  otherwise we will not be able to provide civic facilities to people,†he said. He mentioned that Lahore in near future could face similar civic problems like Karachi as result of unplanned urban development.
Imran Khan said this time, the case would be presented in a better manner to apprise the Apex Court about the significance of the project in view of urban development and civic facilities. The Prime Minister said there is a misconception about the Ravi Urban project that it is a housing society. Instead, he said grand project aimed at correcting the faults in the wake of unplanned construction of the city.
Earlier, when the Prime Minister reached Lahore on a day-long visit, he was given a briefing regarding the Central Business District at Walton. On this occasion, he met with investors of this mega real estate project.
‘Industrial activities’
Prime Minister Imran Khan said Friday that due to far-sighted policies of the incumbent government, industrial activities in Faisalabad had started again gaining momentum. He said this while presiding over a meeting here which reviewed ongoing development works in Faisalabad division. The prime minister said that foreign investments would increase with setting up of special economic zone in Faisalabad.
The meeting was told that construction work of main roads were ongoing in Faisalabad which would help in linking the districts and motorways.
Universities and power plant were being set up in Toba Tek Singh and Jhang while work on various projects was also underway under district development package. The meeting also discussed proposed public transport project in Faisalabad, IT University and projects to enhance the beauty of the city.
Prime Minister Imran Khan directed to complete the ongoing development projects within stipulated time besides completing public welfare oriented projects on priority basis. He said the incumbent government was providing health insurance to each family of Punjab under health card initiative.
The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Shahbaz Gill, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar and parliamentarians belonging to Faisalabad.
 ‘All possible steps to attract investors’
Prime Minister Imran Khan Friday said the government was taking all possible steps to attract investors towards industrial manufacturing in the country.
Chairing a review meeting on progress of special economic zones in the country, he said Punjab was a very attractive province for the foreign investors especially for Chinese investors who were desirous of shifting their industrial units to Pakistan.
The prime minister directed the relevant officials to ensure business friendly environment for the investors.
These measures included provision of land on easy installments to decrease the cost of initial investment of businessmen and availability of plug and play model for early start of their business operations.
The prime minister stressed that effective rules and regulations should be formed to discourage conversion of industrial estate into real estate ventures because when the investor would have to pay a heavy cost for acquiring land to start a business project, it would make the investment not attractive and he would abandon the decision to make investment.
He instructed the relevant officials to reorganize the Board of Directors of Punjab Industrial Estate Development and Management Company, Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development and Management Company on very professional lines so that those directors could be appointed who had no personal interest in the special economic zones.
Minister for Federal Education Shafqat Mehmood, Minister for Information Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Minister for Planning Asad Umar, Advisor for Trade Abdul Razak Dawood, Special Assistant for Political Communication Shahbaz Gill, Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar, Punjab Minister for Industries Mian Aslam Iqbal, Special Assistant for Information to Punjab Chief Minister Hasaan Khawar and senior officers attended the meeting. Special Assistant to Prime Minister for CPEC Khalid Mansoor attended the meeting through video link.
Punjab Law Minister calls on PM Imran Khan
Punjab Law Minister Muhammad Basharat Raja called on Prime Minister Imran Khan, here on Friday.
During the meeting, matters pertaining to legislation in the province came under discussion. Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar was also present in the meeting.
