The supreme court has allowed the continuation of work on the Ravi riverfront urban development project after hearing the government’s appeal today.
Supreme Court of Pakistan has suspended the Lahore High Court’s decision of scrapping the Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project.
The Supreme court allowed government to continue the work on the land where they have made payments to the owners. The Supreme court also issued notices to the parties.
The RUDA (Ravi urban development authority) shared this information in a tweet:
What is Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project?
Not many of us know that Deputy Commissioner Lahore proposed the Ravi Riverfront project in 1947. Then, In 2013, the Punjab Government considered beginning the project, which was initially planned to span over 18,000 hectares (44,000 acres).
In 2014, LDA hired Singapore-based architectural firm Meinhardt Group to run a feasibility study on the Ravi River for the development of the project but it could not be started. Furthermore, The current government started the project in 2020. And PM Imran Khan inaugurated it on 7 August 2020.
Construction began in Dec 2020. As of Jan 2021, it had attracted the US $8 billion in foreign investment. But In Jan 2022 the Lahore High Court declares the project illegal. 74 years & the fate of this project is still unclear.
Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan arrives in Lahore to review ongoing projects under Ravi Urban Development Authority.
Moreover, On this occasion, CEO RUDA Imran Amin also briefed Prime Minister Imran Khan on ongoing projects.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Imran Khan Discussion at Rakh Jhuk during the tour of Lahore:
“Ravi Urban is a multi-billion dollar project that will create a lot of jobs.”
The Prime Minister also said:
“For the first time after Islamabad, there will be a new city formed. Some people have a misunderstanding that this is becoming a housing society. We will plant 20 million trees here. This will save the Ravi River. If the population of the existing cities increases, it will only aggravate the problems.”
Ravi City will be the first multi-purpose and comprehensive city in 40 years. The project will ensure the rehabilitation of the Ravi River, which has now turned into a sewer.
