Shahbaz announces liver centre at retrieved land

LAHORE, April 14: Accepting certain demands of the traders' community regarding the ongoing anti-encroachment drive, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has announced establishing a urology and liver transplant facility at the land retrieved from grabbers on Lawrence Road. In a meeting with a delegation of traders led by Naeem Mir, Mr Sharif said the liver transplant and urology centre would be set up at the valuable land recovered at Zeenat Lab. Thanking the trading community for their cooperation in the anti-encroachment drive, he said it yielded positive results in the provincial metropolis as people heaved a sigh of relief while flow of traffic also improved. The traders demanded that a few inches high platform in front of shops, a couple of feet wide canopy to protect against sunlight and rain and placing of power generators on roads should be allowed. They also called for withdrawal of cases registered against various shopkeepers during the drive, covering of a drain in Nila Gumbad and construction of The Mall parking plaza opposite the defunct Shezan restaurant. The CM directed covering the drain and starting work on the parking plaza immediately. Similarly, retrieving a motorcycle stand on Hall Road from illegal occupation was also directed. According to Mr Mir, the chief minister also agreed to look into the issue of 300 stall-holders of Moon Market (Iqbal Town) as well as formation of peace committees by the capital city police officer (CCPO) without taking into confidence PML-N traders wing. He claimed that the delegation was also assured of official support for the writ petition filed against taking out rallies and processions on The Mall. He said media representatives would also be approached to urge them not to cover those protesting on The Mall for the sake of the livelihood of the trading community.