Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday performed the groundbreaking of Punjab’s government’s flagship project Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony, Imran Khan directed the Ravi project head that there should be no delays in the project because “we don’t have much time and there is an international interest in it.”

The Prime Minister said overseas Pakistani will show overwhelming interest in the project.

During the speech, he counted his government’s feats and how he took difficult decisions by establishing Namal Institute in Mianwali and first Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital in Lahore.

The premier cited Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad who built a new capital from scratch. Imran Khan quoted a maxim, “Do not judge a person for what he is, judge him by what he inspires to be.” He said it was only Edmund Hillary who successfully climbed the world's highest mountain Mount Everest and before him everybody failed because Edmund Hillary had a big dream in his mind.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn2ZnDvNKHQ 

“You will face difficulties for sure but take a decision by yourself that this project is necessary for Lahore and for Pakistan,” Imran tells the Punjab government. He said, “When I heard about Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project that this project was in discussion in previous era, I knew that was not going to happen because their priority was to make money and not to uplift the poor people.”

Imran Khan announced the launch of KP-styled Health Insurance Card (HICs) in Punjab. The premier said the government has set standards and SOPs for the people staying in Panah Gahs (shelter houses).

Criticizing the PPP slogan, Imran Khan said his government has actually allocated Rs30 billion package for Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme for affordable houses for the citizens. Previously roti, kapra aur makan was merely a slogan,” he said.

Imran khan said the lake and waterfront of this project will elevate the underground water table for River Ravi Rejuvenation.

Imran Khan along with Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar and Minster for Water Resources Faisal Vawda performed the groundbreaking of Ravi River Front Urban Development (RRFUD) project.

It is pertinent to mention that Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project is an urban development megaproject in Lahore runs along the Ravi River in a northeast to southwest direction. The project includes the construction of a 40,000-hectare (100,000-acre) planned city and the rehabilitation of the Ravi River into a perennial freshwater body.

The project is to be completed in three phases. It is expected to be the largest riverfront of the world when finished. The project was inaugurated on 7 August 2020 by the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan.

Addressing the ceremony, Punjab Chief Minister stated the provincial government does not believe in ceremonial projects and said RRFUD will be a practical project. “There will be three barrages that will make Lahore’s environment better and also will help to raise the underground water table. There will be 12 zones which will open with 1.8 million residential units and provide 1.2 million jobs to the people. The project will use 95 percent local construction material.”

The project will help eradicate environment pollution, the chief minister said.

According to a press release of the PM office media wing, the prime minister will also chair a high-level meeting in which he would be given a briefing on law and order situation, provision of daily use items and their prices and progress on different welfare projects.

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