Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a progress review meeting on Ravi City and Lahore Central Business District. The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Information Farrukh Habib, Special Assistant Dr. Shahbaz Gill, Chairman Naya Pakistan Housing Authority Lt. Gen. (retd) Anwar Ali Haider, Vice Chairman LDA Sheikh Muhammad Imran. Finance Minister Shaukat Fayyaz Tareen, Provincial Minister for Housing Punjab Mian Mahmood ur Rasheed, Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab Dr Salman Shah, CEO Ravi Urban Development Authority Imran Amin and concerned senior officials participated through video link. The meeting was informed that due to special emphasis on environment protection in the mega project, 24,000-kanal Jhok Forest is being set up in Ravi City, which would be the first forest of its kind in Pakistan to be monitored by smart sensors. The project has been partnered with Huawei for technical support. The Knowledge Park to be set up on 150 acres in the project is an important part of it. The meeting was informed that a comprehensive urban forest strategy has been formulated in Ravi City under which the project includes not only protection of existing forests and establishment of knowledge park, but also establishment of public parks, botanical gardens, bird sanctuaries, butterfly parks and gardens whereby the Butterfly Parks are being built in consultation with international experts. The meeting was further informed that about one thousand industries would be set up in Ravi City's Renewable Industrial Estate (first of its kind in Pakistan) covering an area of 2000 acres. The said Industrial Estate includes IT park, cold storage, landfill sites, low-pollution / green industry, green reserves and water treatment plant. In addition, a waste-to-energy plant will also be installed in the project. The meeting was also briefed in detail on the progress on Sapphire Bay. With reference to the Central Business District, the meeting was informed that on August 4, 2021, in the first phase, 5 plots will be auctioned in which a large number of investors are participating and it is expected to generate a revenue of Rs 13 billion. The second phase will be launched immediately after the first phase auction is complete. The Prime Minister said that both the projects are of national importance and would play a key role in solving the problems of Lahore city and especially in generating economic activities. He directed that an integrated strategy be formulated to ensure uninterrupted progress on the projects. In addition, the Prime Minister showed satisfaction regarding the pace of work on Sapphire Bay.
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