Latest news with #RUDA
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Yokohama, Punjab agree on ‘city-to-city' cooperation
LAHORE: 'Yokohama and Punjab have agreed on 'city-to-city' cooperation in various fields including environment protection and providing modern development systems to cities,' said Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif during her visit to Japan's commercial, economic and cultural center 'Yokohama.' The CM and her delegation members were given a detailed briefing on urban development at Yokohama Town Hall. She discussed on how to bring construction quality of roads and buildings in Punjab at par with that of Japan. She also discussed various possibilities of cooperation between Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) and Yokohama. The Chief Minister reviewed possibilities of cooperation in running a high-speed train between Lahore and Islamabad, besides upgradation of railway infrastructure in the province. She also reviewed the latest Japanese chairlift and air cabin projects. She was apprised, 'Kun-Hun' the three cities of Tokyo, Kawasaki and Yokohama are located in a region called industrial zone of Japan.' She was briefed by the authorities concerned, 'Yokohama is the second largest city in Japan in terms of population, and in May 2025, annual conference of Asian Development Bank declared Yokohama the most developed city in Asia in terms of environmental improvement.' Moreover, the CM who is on a five-day official visit to Japan, visited different parts of 'Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse,' whose new name is 'Newport Pier Bonded Warehouse' due to its location along the port. She also visited a centre for teaching skills to children, under community welfare in the warehouse. The Chief Minister saw children making things from paper and other materials. The children showed her various examples of their creative talents. She congratulated the children and interacted with them. Maryam Nawaz Sharif said, 'A model of community welfare is also being promoted in Punjab.' She added, 'We are also adopting methods of education and skill development on modern lines, besides providing facilities to children of Punjab.' She paid tribute to the excellent efforts of administration of 'Red Brick Warehouse.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
CM vows to emulate Japan's modern cities
Punjab and Yokohama have agreed on 'city-to-city' cooperation in various fields, including environment protection and providing modern development systems to cities, announced Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif during her visit to the Japanese commercial, economic and cultural hub. The chief minister and her delegation were given a detailed briefing on urban development at Yokohama Town Hall. She discussed how to bring the construction quality of roads and buildings in Punjab at par with that of Japan. She also discussed various possibilities of cooperation between the Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) and Yokohama. The chief minister reviewed possibilities of cooperation in running a high-speed train between Lahore and Islamabad, besides upgrade of railway infrastructure in the province. She also reviewed latest Japanese chairlift and air cabin projects. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was informed that 'Kun-Hun', the three cities of Tokyo, Kawasaki and Yokohama, are located in an industrial zone of Japan. "Yokohama is the second largest city in Japan in terms of population. In May, an annual conference of the Asian Development Bank declared Yokohama the most developed city in Asia in terms of environmental improvement." Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is on a five-day official visit to Japan. She also visited Japan's largest wastewater treatment plant. "Japan's modern technology and methods will be used for sewage and waste management in Punjab," she said on the occasion. She inspected the waste treatment systems of Asahi, Yokohama city, Kanagawa, Washimaku and Yodogawa. The chief minister was briefed on garbage and wastewater collection along with the waste disposal systems of Japanese cities. She was informed that Yokohama's solid waste and wastewater treatment plant treats 1.5 million litres of wastewater daily. "The Yokohama Waste Treatment Plant is also operating several plants that generate energy from waste. This energy is used for heating systems for the local population," Japanese officials said. They said the plant was an ideal institution for disposal of waste by using modern technology. The chief minister was informed, "Waste is separated into reusable components through a modern plant and automated system. Despite being an industrial city, Yokohama has the highest environmental standards." Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said the environmental and urban development model would be implemented in Punjab. The chief minister also visited various parts of the Newport Pier Bonded Warehouse and a centre for teaching skills to children under community welfare in then facility. She saw children making various items from paper and other material. The children showed her examples of their creative talents and she congratulated them. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said on the occasion that a model of community welfare was also being promoted in Punjab. "We are also adopting methods of education and skill development on modern lines, besides providing facilities to children of Punjab," she added. Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb accompanied her in the visit. During a visit to the Yokohama Port, the chief minister briefed the hosts about RUDA and said, "We want to develop Lahore, which is located on the banks of Ravi River, on the model of Yokohama." She invited officials of the Yokohama Urban Development Authority to visit Lahore and see the work of RUDA. "We want to work for the construction and development of industrial and densely populated cities of Punjab, including Lahore, on the model of Yokohama. We want to transform RUDA into a modern urban development institution on the model of Yokohama." The Yokohama team accepted the invitation to visit Lahore. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said, "We want urban development while ensuring protection from environmental pollution and hazards along with industrial development." She noted, "Japan's densely populated and industrial city of Yokohama is a rare example of modern urban development." She was given a briefing about work, management and facilities at the port. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed all stakeholders to take emergency measures in view of possible cloudbursts and torrential rains across Punjab. She directed doctors and paramedical staff in hospitals and health centres to remain alert to cope with any untoward situation.
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Maryam Nawaz promises modern city development inspired by Japan
Punjab and Yokohama have agreed on 'city-to-city' cooperation in various fields, including environment protection and providing modern development systems to cities, announced Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz during her visit to the Japanese commercial, economic and cultural hub on Monday. The chief minister and her delegation were given a detailed briefing on urban development at Yokohama Town Hall. She discussed how to bring the construction quality of roads and buildings in Punjab at par with that of Japan. She also discussed various possibilities of cooperation between the Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) and Yokohama. The chief minister reviewed possibilities of cooperation in running a high-speed train between Lahore and Islamabad, besides upgrade of railway infrastructure in the province. She also reviewed latest Japanese chairlift and air cabin projects. Maryam was informed that 'Kun-Hun', the three cities of Tokyo, Kawasaki and Yokohama, are located in an industrial zone of Japan. 'Yokohama is the second largest city in Japan in terms of population. In May, an annual conference of the Asian Development Bank declared Yokohama the most developed city in Asia in terms of environmental improvement." وزیراعلیٰ پنجاب کا جاپان کے تاریخی اور صنعتی شہر یوکو ہاما کی بندرگاہ کا دورہ وزیر اعلٰی نے یوکوہاما کی ڈویلپمنٹ کو سراہا اور پورٹ آپریشنز کا مشاہدہ کیا — Government of Punjab (@GovtofPunjabPK) August 18, 2025 Punjab CM is on a five-day official visit to Japan. She also visited Japan's largest wastewater treatment plant. Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb accompanied her. "Japan's modern technology and methods will be used for sewage and waste management in Punjab," she said on the occasion. She inspected the waste treatment systems of Asahi, Yokohama city, Kanagawa, Washimaku and Yodogawa. She was briefed on garbage and wastewater collection along with the waste disposal systems of Japanese cities. She was informed that Yokohama's solid waste and wastewater treatment plant treats 1.5 million litres of wastewater daily. 'The Yokohama Waste Treatment Plant is also operating several plants that generate energy from waste. This energy is used for heating systems for the local population," Japanese officials said. They said the plant was an ideal institution for disposal of waste by using modern technology. The CM was informed, "Waste is separated into reusable components through a modern plant and automated system. Despite being an industrial city, Yokohama has the highest environmental standards." Maryam said the environmental and urban development model would be implemented in Punjab. She also visited various parts of the Newport Pier Bonded Warehouse and a centre for teaching skills to children under community welfare in then facility. She saw children making various items from paper and other material. The children showed her examples of their creative talents and she congratulated them. The CM said on the occasion that a model of community welfare was also being promoted in Punjab. 'We are also adopting methods of education and skill development on modern lines, besides providing facilities to children of Punjab," she added. During a visit to the Yokohama Port, the chief minister briefed the hosts about RUDA and said, "We want to develop Lahore, which is located on the banks of Ravi River, on the model of Yokohama." She invited officials of the Yokohama Urban Development Authority to visit Lahore and see the work of RUDA. "We want to work for the construction and development of industrial and densely populated cities of Punjab, including Lahore, on the model of Yokohama. We want to transform RUDA into a modern urban development institution on the model of Yokohama." CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, during her visit to Yokohama, Japan, explored cooperation in urban development, environmental sustainability, and modern infrastructure. Discussions included city-to-city collaboration, high-speed rail between Lahore & Islamabad, and advanced… — Sania Ashiq (@SaniaaAshiq) August 18, 2025 The Yokohama team accepted the invitation to visit Lahore. CM Maryam said, "We want urban development while ensuring protection from environmental pollution and hazards along with industrial development." She noted, "Japan's densely populated and industrial city of Yokohama is a rare example of modern urban development." She was given a briefing about work, management and facilities at the port. Meanwhile, Maryam directed all stakeholders to take emergency measures in view of possible cloudbursts and torrential rains across Punjab. She directed doctors and paramedical staff in hospitals and health centres to remain alert to cope with any untoward situation. She directed the communications and works department officials to immediately repair and restore the roads affected by the rains. The CM further directed the administration and other relevant authorities to remain alert in view of the heavy rains in Chakwal and other areas. She also directed the authorities to ensure protection of the lives and property in low-lying areas of Chakwal, along with prohibiting bathing in rivers and canals. She directed the police to patrol all areas. She issued directives for timely evacuation of the residents of areas affected by flood and restoration of traffic by removing obstacles from small and big roads affected by the rains. She said, 'Cloudbursts and torrential rains are natural calamities. All relevant institutions should remain alert at all times. No negligence will be tolerated in this regard.'
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- General
- Express Tribune
The rot in the Ravi
Centuries ago, the Emperor Shah Jahan was preparing a room in the Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace) of the Lahore Fort. Keeping the river Ravi in mind, the idea was to have special windows that would capture the cool breeze flowing off of the Ravi, for the empress. A swinging mirror next to the window would reflect the light of the stars and the moon and light up the detailed mirror work on the ceiling of Noor Jahan's room. The ceiling would glimmer like the stars because of the breeze swinging the mirror. Such was the majesty of the Ravi. But the Queen died before she could sleep in this room, and the room never served its intended purpose. Today, its only purpose is as a reminder of impermanence and the futility of idealism. It is hard to believe that the same Ravi is now a garbage dump. One wouldn't want to build a home next to the Ravi due to the smell of garbage and sewage water, let alone design an expensive window to catch the disgusting breeze. It is the simple things like this that help make or break the reported happiness of a city's residents. Paris recently reopened its river for public swimming. Will we be able to say the same about the Ravi some day? So far, we just have dreams. Standing at the banks of the Ravi, one can see a man fishing in the sewage water, a truck dumping garbage, and the sewage water converging with the rest of the river entering the city from Eastern Punjab, from India. The Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) has promised us that the river will be transformed into a vibrant and pristine waterfront for more urban development. Let's say that this works, yet in a world where we won't be able to grow food in Punjab (let alone Sindh), does any of this even matter? This is what Amir Khusrow had to say about our region, only a couple hundred years before the Sheesh Mahal: 'The splendour of spring is best to be enjoyed in India … India remains in spring throughout the year, with its evergreen, fragrant flora ... The wide fields are never short of greenery, the trees never look naked of leaves. The air is not empty of the chirping of birds … mustard flowers … sparkle like golden jewels on a green carpet … the crops of sugarcane, miles on end, evergreen' The landscape of Khusrow's period is rapidly vanishing. Significant biodiversity loss has contributed to wild cats such as the leopards being endangered or outright extinct like the Bengal tigers and swamp deer among others. This has exponentially worsened since the construction of endless dams on the Indus, resulting in the loss of the Indus delta, mangrove diversity and as a result many species that relied on them. Forest cover that was once dominant in Punjab is now only three per cent of the territory. This ends up making populations more vulnerable to flooding too, as forests act as a natural shock absorber to floods. Biodiversity at risk According to Sohail Ali Naqvi, Director of Freshwater, WWF-Pakistan, 'The river ecosystem and biodiversity is affected directly with the contaminated wastewater. The water quality is deteriorated, with extremely low levels of Dissolved oxygen (DO) in the Ravi near Lahore. As a result, fish species have vanished downstream of Balloki headworks [near city area].' This could be good news for the men who once fished on the banks of the Ravi, as they may have been spared from eating contaminated fish due to their non-existence. 'Sewage water is directly or indirectly discharged into the River Ravi from Lahore through eight drains," explained Naqvi. "These drains carry sewage and industrial effluents, dumping them into the river. Unfortunately, we don't have any Combined Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) for Lahore city." Despite sizeable land allocation to Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Lahore since the 1990s (7,200 Kanals near Babu Sabu), the city doesn't have any treatment plants. Due to the Indus Water Treaty (1961), the flow of the River Ravi is quite low. "With sewage water being dumped into the river and the river flow being quite low throughout the year, the Ravi looks like a dirty drain. In fact, no aquatic life is present near Shahdara Bridge,' said Naqvi. Public health hazard 'In the past decades, there were some studies which mentioned that River Ravi carried more than 38 species of fish from Lahore to Head Sidhnai, but unfortunately, these fish species have almost vanished near Lahore city,' Naqvi shared. 'However, at the upstream of BRBD and downstream of Head Balloki, fishing can be observed. Different studies have mentioned the bioaccumulation of heavy metals found in the organs of fish species, which directly impact the human health,' he added. During the extreme monsoon rains last month in Punjab, the DG of PDMA, Irfan Ali Khatia told The Express Tribune: 'We do not have a significant threat, at the moment, of a lot of water coming through the Ravi from India … Whenever there is 40-60% above average rainfall predicted, the chances of urban centres like Lahore being flooded increase.' Khatia was referring to the impact of the phenomenon called 'Spring-time Mid-East heating', which has impacted the severity of the monsoon in both India and Pakistan this year. The 'intense warming of land relative to the ocean' pushed the 'low-level jet' more upwards, and intensified it, which made this monsoon season particularly deadly. Management often seems 'absent' at the WASA office in Lahore during monsoon, to 'supervise' rain response according to the staff. There seems to be little clarity on whether their crisis management would be better handled 'off-field', when the agency's staff is pressed for explanation. Does all of this negatively impact the groundwater in Lahore? Yes, said Naqvi: 'The wastewater also directly contributes to the groundwater aquifer contamination. During rainy season, the sewage water mixes with rainwater and also percolates into the soil and impacts the quality of groundwater. That's the reason that the shallow groundwater in Lahore is not of good quality' According to the director general of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA): 'The government, now, has started to focus on underground water recharge.' He is referring to the unfinished holes you see in Lahore in the middle of roundabouts. WASA Director Mudasir Javed said: 'We are working on surface water replacement with ground water. So if we use surface water, we will be able to reduce pressure on groundwater.' He further added that, per capita, Lahore consumes 40 gallons per day. This is because currently groundwater is the only source of water for Lahore. With the growing population and diminishing groundwater level, we are headed for a crisis unless we have viable alternatives. It is yet to be seen whether and when this transition will be made. Commenting further on the public health impact of the sewage contaminated water of the Ravi, Naqvi said: 'In peri-urban areas, it is common for livestock such as cows/buffaloes to graze in open areas and use nearby water bodies for drinking and bathing. The contaminated water directly affects the human food chain and causes different kinds of diseases in the animals as well as in humans.' He added that different studies have mentioned that the pathogenic bacteria, heavy metals from farming activities and antibiotic waste directly impact human health and cause different diseases. 'These contaminants can enter the human food chain through the animals' meat and milk (and potentially lead to diseases such as skin diseases, allergies etc.),' Naqvi explains. He further highlighted the damning reality: 'The communities living at the bank of River Ravi are directly affected by the wastewater contamination. There are more than 8 drains (and many small drains), which carry the wastewater of Lahore into the river directly and indirectly. The communities living at the bank of those open drains near the river face different challenges such as contaminated groundwater, air pollution (caused by different gases discharged from the sewage water into the environment such as Sulphur dioxide, methane, etc.). These gases, along with the dust, often clog the exhaust systems of refrigerators and air conditioners, reducing their efficiency. Also the people suffer from a higher incidence of waterborne illness' While people criticise the illegal occupation of land around the Ravi by the residents, one must ask an additional follow up question: was it their fault that the sewage control is lacking this much? Inevitable extinction of culture Most of the coverage surrounding the crisis seems to revolve around the immediate loss and suffering, without the context of the climate crisis, let alone an even bigger picture analysis of our relationship with nature as that of master and slave, rather than interdependent species. RUDA, although built around a relatively more sustainable concept in principle, is still based on the premise that nature can be tamed and made to bend according to our specific urban needs. It is beyond their scope to deal with a '3-degree' world that we are headed for as per current trajectories. The project plans on engineering the construction in a way that can manage floods based on past floods 'to date', implying that the flood management may not be with respect to the increasing likelihood of greater and greater flooding due to climate change, with every year that goes by. We cannot manage a crisis appropriately if we are not aware of the extent of it. Have we really considered the impact of a 3 degree in Lahore? Temperatures could go up to 50 degrees Celsius. This is nothing less than unbearable, and farming is impossible under these circumstances. Under the current projections, we are expected to reach these temperatures by 2050. If you think that this won't impact you, air-conditioners at these temperatures may stop working or have difficulty working effectively. Most air-conditioners are simply not built with these temperatures in mind. Fireflies or jugnu, commonly used in Punjabi poetry as an allegory, have reduced significantly in rural Punjab, evoking yet another timely quote from Khusrow: 'How exhilarating is the climate of this country, where so many birds sing melodiously. Poets, composers and singers rise from this land, as abundantly and as naturally as the grass…' As we have shifted away from our habitat, nature, it should come as no surprise that art and culture has suffered too. Basant too was banned, for nothing to do with its ancient roots, we're told, purely due to the dangers associated with kite flying. It may as well be given up on, since harvest has only been declining due to rising temperatures and excessive rainfall, and instead of a cause for celebration, it marks existential dread for farmers, and bankruptcy for the state, with an endless cycle of debt, and more debt to pay off more debt. History tells us that even as we lose our biodiversity and wildlife over centuries, it will impact our culture. Our poetry, music, and literature is full of references to the fireflies, the birds and the rivers, and poetry is an integral part of our traditions. With an increasing extinction of our species, it should not come to us as a surprise when our culture, too, goes extinct, until we ourselves do. While we continue to dream through RUDA-like projects, the empress's Sheesh Mahal serves as a reminder that not all beautiful things will be lived in as intended. Zain Haq is a freelance contributor All facts and information are the sole responsibility of the author
Business Recorder
08-08-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Punjab govt expedites work on Ravi City Project
LAHORE: The Punjab government has expedited development work on the Ravi City Project, a modern and fully-facilitated urban initiative connected to Lahore. In this connection, Punjab Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering Secretary Noor ul Amin Mengal chaired a meeting on Thursday. During the meeting, Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) CEO Imran Amin gave a detailed briefing on the project. According to the spokesperson of the Punjab Housing Department, the meeting reviewed various aspects of Ravi City, including road infrastructure, transport projects, residential and commercial zones, recreational areas, and business districts. The meeting was told that Lahore's existing and upcoming transport systems will be aligned with the Ravi City Master Plan. Similarly, efforts will be made to ensure early settlement and the promotion of commercial activities in Ravi City. The early completion of recreational sites has also been prioritised to ensure quality entertainment facilities for citizens. It was further stated that existing populations and nearby rural areas will also be provided with basic amenities based on a sustainable model. According to the spokesperson, RUDA is proving to be a key milestone in the development of Lahore and its adjoining cities. The province is progressing toward sustainable development under the direction of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, he added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
