He said the Punjab government was acting upon the policy to utilise available resources for productive purposes through the best planning to strengthen the economy of the province and the proposed commercial complex was an important step towards this direction.
"With the construction of the complex, 20,000 to 25,000 new job opportunities would emerge, besides promotion of commercial activities in Punjab. More complexes would also be constructed through foreign investment in other cities of the province in future," he added.
Earlier, the cabinet was apprised of the details of the project formulated with joint venture of the Punjab government and the world consortium. According to which, 400 rooms hotel of international standard, besides a huge shopping center with a vast banquet hall, with a seating capacity of 7,000 people will be constructed in the complex. The cabinet members observed that Dubai style shopping center to be constructed would attract customers of the other cities, apart from the local consumers.
The cabinet also approved an educational and entertainment IMX project comprising 40-Kanal. The project would include a shopping area and a modern cinema hall with 630 seats.
The meeting also reviewed law and order situation in the province. The chief minister said that the people would not be satisfied with the performance of the police, unless there is visible decrease in the crime rate. He said that he himself would chair a meeting every month, to review crime rate pertaining to theft, dacoity and ransom cases in the province. He announced to set up a committee, under the chairmanship of the Provincial Law Minister Raja Muhammad Basharat, to review these crimes on weekly basis. He said that special measures were needed to ensure law and order during Moharram-ul-Haram, and the Ministers and the Nazims would have to make concerted efforts in their respective areas in this regard.
The cabinet also authenticated the exemption of the houses up to 5-Marla from the property tax without discrimination of the category. The chief minister directed that exemption to the owners of 5-Marla houses should be given with effect from September, 2004.
The meeting also decided to adopt various measures for ending environmental pollution. The cabinet was informed that no industrial estate was being approved without the facility of water treatment plants in the province. He directed that special funds should be allocated for water treatment plants in the "Green Fund" set up to eradicate pollution.