Traders protest against delayed road expansion

INTERNATIONAL DESK: On Monday, shopkeepers along Multan Road closed their shops and demanded completion of the project.

The protesters stood amidst sewage water that had overflowed due to the municipal committee’s negligence. They raised slogans against the caretaker chief minister and the district administration for failing to address the sewage issue, which had caused a great deal of inconvenience for them.

Local leader Sheikh Amir Saleem said the incomplete road and sewage problem had severely impacted their businesses. Despite assurances from the chief officer of the Municipal Committee, the traders refused to end the protest, completely obstructing traffic on Multan Road.

Later, the deputy commissioner sent ADCR Abida Fareed and Executive Engineer (highway) Shahid to meet with the protesting traders. They assured the traders of a prompt clean-up and promised that the Multan Road expansion project, from Kachehri Chowk to Ganesh Wah, would be completed soon.

Moreover, Deputy Commissioner Mian Usman Ali took action against the contractor and SDO (local government) Mohammed Nabeel, for failing to complete the main road of Thermal power, which had been in a state of disrepair for the past three years. The deputy commissioner set one-month deadline for completion of the road, warning of action in case of non-compliance. (DAWN)