Moreover, Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif is due to land the city on Thursday. He had delayed his return from abroad after having official visit to Turkey, followed by his visit to Britain for medical check-up. President Zardari was due to visit Pakpattan and address a public gathering. However, developments on NRO front put him into a different state of mind and he left for Islamabad.
The President could not spare time from his hectic schedule for a meeting with the members of the Punjab Cabinet, sources said, adding that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Ministers except Rana Sanaullah had made a formal request for a meeting. The President interacted with the masses, party workers, journalist community and people from different walks of life during his stay in the provincial metropolis.
Earlier, President Zardari inaugurated two development projects in the Governor's House during the day. The President was to inaugurate these projects at Minchinabad, District Bahawal Nager but he could not go there due to bad weather. The President inaugurated Baba Farid Bridge over river Sutlej at Minchinabad completed at a cost of Rs 1108 million linking Pakpatan and Minchinabad.
With the construction of this bridge, distance between the two aforementioned towns has been reduced by 70-km, as previously no direct access was available to people of Pakpattan on right bank except board bridge. The newly constructed bridge is 572 meter long and nine metres wide.
The President Zardari also inaugurated Broadband Internet Project in Southern Punjab. Under this project, 101500 broadband connections will be provided to people in 12 districts of the South Punjab. Federal ministers- Qamar Zaman Kaira, Mian Manzoor Wattoo, Mehrin Anwar Raja, Rana Saeed Farooq, provincial minister, MNAs, MPA and party leaders attended the event.