London Borough of Hounslow and Lahore Cantonment would be declared as 'Twin Cities', and resolution in this regard would be signed at the Lahore Cantonment Board office on Tuesday, January 6.
This was stated by Councillor Roger Clarke, Mayor of London Borough of Hounslow, in a press conference here on Monday. Councillors of Hounslow Ilyas Khawaja, Muhammad Hussain Chaudhry, Zarina Butt, Muhammad Atta-ur-Rehman Chaudhry and Karamat Malik were also present on the occasion.
Ilyas said that Pakistanis who have settled in England, are making efforts to declare Lahore Cantonment and London Borough of Hounslow as 'twin cities'. First resolution was presented in the Hounslow Council in 1990.
After lengthy efforts, the governments of Pakistan and England have accorded their approval in this regard, he added. "It is the second phase of our efforts when resolution is being signed between the representatives of Hounslow Council and CEO of Lahore Cantonment Board on January 6, 2004," he added.
"Besides the social welfare work, we would also work for the uplift of public sector hospitals and educational institutions in the cantonment area," he added.
"As a result of declaration of twin-cities we will focus on improvement of health, education and civic facilities and initiate various programmes including equipping the public sector hospitals with sophisticated gadgets and modern technology. Similarly, the primary and secondary schools of the area would be provided computers to promote information technology," Khawaja added.
Atta-ur-Rehman said: "We would also help in raising funds from the European Community so that road infrastructure, drainage, water supply, street lights and other civic amenities could be improved in the underdeveloped localities of the cantonment area."