LAHORE: A team of experts representing a Saudi-German joint venture is scheduled to meet officials of Lahore Parking Company (LPC) and the city district administration on Monday (today) to discuss interventions and methods it plans to introduce in Lahore while modernising the existing parking lots, Dawn learnt on Sunday.

A joint venture of the Advanced Global Communication Network (AGCN), a subsidiary of the National Technology Group (a Saudi business group) and Green Park (a Germanfirm) were short-listed by the LPC in September last year. It offered 45.4 per cent of the total parking revenue to the government on BOT (build, operate and transfer) basis in seven years according to RFP (request for proposal) of EOI (expression of interest) it submitted to the government for taking over the entire off and on-street parking areas in Punjab capital.

`The LPC management and other officials concerned will discuss various things before entering an agreement that is likely to be signed before February 10,` Lahore Development Authority Vice Chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hassantold Dawn on Sunday.

Mr Hassan, who also coordinates on the transport, parking, waste management and other civic issues with the government departments on behalf of the Punjab chief minister, said the venture would submit its plan for taking over the parking sites, methods to be used in converting them into mechanically automated facilities having a modern system for lifting and parking vehicles, besides on-ground parking and monitoring through latest cameras and operation rooms etc.

When asked about the delay in signing the agreement, Hassan said it was caused because the group it-self sought time from LPC for transporting some equipment from abroad.

`Now they have almost completed their homework and are ready to accomplish the task. The agreement will be signed by February 10. And soon after this they will start working,` he said, adding that the experts would first automate some major parking lots as a pilot activity and then the LPC would start handing them over other sites gradually.

The AGCN would deal with the management affairs whereas the German firm would handle the operational matters of these parking lots.

Mr Hassan said representatives of a Tukish company were also due in Lahore on Monday (today) to discuss modalities with the Punjab government for establishing/developing a theme park in Lahore.

`This will be a complete family park where people can shop, eat and stay, besides enjoying other recreationalfacilities.If the agreement was signed, the company will establish the facility at one of the identified sites in Lahore. The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) will administratively and functionally handle the affairs of the park whereas the LDA or Tepa may deal with the construction work under the supervision of Turkish experts,` Hassan explained.