LAHORE: Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for the construction of 150 houses in flood-hit villages in district Layyah.
Total estimated cost of the project, to be completed in a record time of three months, is Rs 20 million, says a press release.
LCCI delegation, headed by its President Shahzad Ali Malik visited four sites including Basti Siraee Shumali, Basti Manchar Mohana, Chak Shahni and Basti Shahni and after a detailed discussion with the district administration, it was decided that the LCCI would initiate construction in Basti Manchar Mohana and Shahbazabad.
Basti Manachar Mohana is the most affected area where residents are spending their lives in camps.
By laying the foundation stone of this mega project, the LCCI has become the first Chamber of Commerce in the country to initiate construction in flood-affected areas.
At first stage, 40 houses would be constructed on emergent basis in Basti Manchar Mohana where devastation due to floods is about 90 percent while on the second stage a model village would be constructed at Shahbazabad.
The model village would be constructed as per the Punjab government plan to provide a matching grant for the construction of utilities i.e. mosque and dispensary in that model village.
The designing and town planning would be done by the government while construction would be completed by the LCCI.
Whereas the amount of Rs 20 million, required for entire onstruction activity designed by the LCCI, would be generated by the chamber.
Three committees comprising LCCI office-bearers and executive committee members have been formed to supervise the project and coordinate with the district administration so that it could be completed in three months.
On the request of area people, the LCCI office-bearers also decided to construct a mosque in flood affected areas.
Speaking on the occasion, LCCI president Shahzad Ali Malik and Senior Vice-president Sheikh Mohammad Arshad said that the Chamber would fulfill its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in a winsome manner as it has the understanding that the government alone cannot cope with the mass devastation caused by the floods.
They said the chamber would also motivate its members to adopt a house in affected areas.
They, however, urged the government to take measures on a war footing to complete infrastructure development in the flood affected areas so that the economic activity in these areas could get a start.
The LCCI has already contributed Rs 15 million to the cause as it had donated Rs 10 million in Prime Flood Relief Fund and another Rs five million in Chief Minister Punjab fund for rehabilitation of flood victims. – Dailytimes
