Sahiwal gets a sports arena, Model Saddar Bazaar and 27 km Sahiwal-Arifwala dual road: Rs 5.61 billion

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif opened four projects worth Rs 5.61 billion in Sahiwal on Friday 16 October, including a new sports arena, a rebuilt Saddar Bazaar and a 27 km dual carriageway from Sahiwal to Arifwala, ProPakistani reported. She also laid the foundation stone for 10 more model agriculture malls across the province.

The four Sahiwal projects

1. Maryam Nawaz Sports Arena

Padel courts, cricket and football arenas and a café. Courts are booked online, with daytime slots reserved for women and evening slots for men. The chief minister played cricket and kicked off a football match on the opening day.

2. Model Saddar Bazaar

The market's electricity and other cables have been put underground for the first time. It also gets an entrance gate, paved walkways, benches, planters and bins.

3. Model Agriculture Mall

Nine shops selling certified seed, fertiliser and pesticides under one roof, a machinery display area, harvesters, planters and drone sprayers for rent, a training hall, crop, soil and pest advice, testing services and access to credit.

4. Sahiwal to Arifwala dual carriageway

A 27 km two-way road officials say will serve residents of three districts. Arifwala, in Pakpattan district, is a farm market town, so the road matters as much for produce trucks as for commuters.

No cost breakdown for each project was given; the Rs 5.61 billion is the total.

Ten more agriculture malls

The second phase covers Jhang, Faisalabad, Renala Khurd, Khanewal, Jampur, Burewala, Sadiqabad, Muridke, Pindi Gheb and Mianwali. No opening dates were announced.

What it means if you live in Sahiwal

• Women and girls can now book daytime slots at a public sports facility in the city.
• Farmers can rent machinery rather than buy it, and buy inputs from a government-backed counter.
• Drivers heading to Arifwala, Pakpattan and on towards Bahawalnagar get a divided road. Work out what the trip costs in fuel with our fuel cost calculator.

The chief minister also directed officials to speed up other road projects in Sahiwal. Earlier on the same visit she ordered a girls' hostel at the University of Sahiwal (our story).