Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s much talked about ‘Gujarat Model’ is not only being replicated nationally, now it is crossing the border as Pakistan is mulling to replicate former Gujarat Chief Minister’s pet project — Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project (SRDP) — on River Ravi, which is passing through lahore.
A high-level delegation of lahore Development Authority (lDA) is in Ahmedabad for three days to study the success story of SRDP. The delegation — headed by the lahore commissioner Rashid Mehmood langrial — comprises lDA Director-General Ahad Khan Cheema, lDA’s strategic policy unit chief Moazzam Sipra and Mustafa Kamal Chaudhry, a technical expert or consultant on urban infrastructure projects.
The Pakistani delegation is touring Gujarat on suggestion of their Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. In fact during his visit to Delhi on the occasion of swearing-in ceremony of Narednra Modi as the Prime Minister, Sharif had evinced interest to replicate Sabarmati Riverfront project at lahore on River Ravi.
Talking to mediapersons at the SRDP site langrial, the lahore Commissioner said that they have been studying riverfront development projects in the different part as they found that conditions in Ahmedabad and lahore were almost similar. “Just like Sabarmati, Ravi River too is not a perennial river. We also wish to give wonderful gift to people of lahore by developing such project. Our team will study the environment impact, water level requirement, structural details and other important issues related to the SRDP,” he said.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation officials accompanied the lahore based delegation. The delegation members also took a high speed boat ride on the Sabarmati River. AMC’s Deputy Commissioner Thennarsan accompanied the delegation and gave presentation for an hour before taking them to the actual site.
Meanwhile, the visit of Pakistani delegation has created ripple in the political circle of Gujarat as the senior Congress leader and former leader of Opposition in Gujarat Assembly, Shaktisinh Gohil criticised BJP-led NDA Government for red-carpet welcome to the Pakistani delegation at time when Pakistani army is breaking cease-fire on Jammu & Kashmir border area.
Besides, Ahmedabad police on Monday detained nearly a dozen Shiv Sena workers, including its leader in Gujarat Ashok Sharma for staging protest against the visit of Pakistani delegation. The police said that Shiv Sena workers wanted to hold protest against the visit in presence of the delegation. However, they were prevented to do it and detained before they could reach the venue.