单选题
Pakistan Society Daffy
Thursday, November 1
After several months of public discussion, the Lahore City Council has approved the construction of the Crescent Cloud Office Complex in the central downtown area.
The Council was persuaded by the architectural designs presented by Southwest Asia One Development Corporation. The corporation's CEO, Rasoul Qureshi, showed how the construction of the 49-floor Crescent Cloud would draw over $7oo million in investment, as it would convince more international corporations to establish their regional headquarters in the building. The tall office complex would also be a way to raise the global profile of both Lahore and Pakistan.
Not everyone agreed with the plan, however. The Beautiful Lahore environmental group had campaigned intensively against the Crescent Cloud, proposing a new park in the downtown area instead. In an interview with the Pakistan Today TV program, Beautiful Lahore director Madran Khaur said, "I understand that the new complex is good for the nation's economy. Like all Pakistanis, I want to see a rise in our GDP. However, citizens also need places to relax and enjoy themselves in peaceful settings. The proposed city park would have provided that. I and the other members of our organization will continue to pressure the Council to give us the sort of urban greenery that we need."
Ground will be broken at the construction site on January 3 and the complex is expected to take 18 months to complete.