logo
RMC finalises Rs1.4b infrastructure, beautification project

RMC finalises Rs1.4b infrastructure, beautification project

Express Tribune06-05-2025
The Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has finalised a major project worth Rs1.4 billion aimed at the carpeting, expansion and complete restoration of 16 key roads in the garrison city, along with an upgraded drainage system.
The project also includes the underground cabling and beautification of the historic Raja Bazaar and Commercial Market areas.
According to the sources, the tender for technical bids for the carpeting, expansion, and design of the 16 roads, as well as the completion of the uplift and drainage system, will be opened on May 13.
The 16 roads include Ganj Mandi Road, Liaquat Road, DAV College Road, Holy Family Road, Food Street Road, Siskat Road, Faisal Chowk to Door Line Road, ICP Institute Road to Old RWMC Road, Pir Panjra Chowk to Phagwari Road, Dhoke Dalal Road, Pir Wadhai Bridge to Dhoke Dalal Bridge, Bani Chowk to Asghar Mall Road Chowk, Gandum Mandi Novelty Cinema Road, Imambargah Road, and Degree College Asghar Mall Road.
However, the work for the restoration and carpeting of roads in Raja Bazaar and Commercial Market will only begin once the underground cabling project is completed.
The municipal corporation has already engaged consultants to oversee the underground cabling and beautification of these two areas. Based on the consultant's report, Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) will issue a demand note for the underground cabling project.
The agreement between the municipal corporation and IESCO stipulates that the municipal corporation will first obtain a report from the consultants to facilitate the issuance of two separate demand notes for the underground cabling work in Raja Bazaar and Commercial Market.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Fake solar panel importers fined Rs111b
Fake solar panel importers fined Rs111b

Express Tribune

time20 hours ago

  • Express Tribune

Fake solar panel importers fined Rs111b

Listen to article The Directorate of Customs Post Clearance Audit has validated the allegations of large-scale money laundering involving 13 companies that imported solar panels. The Customs Adjudication Collectorate imposed a massive penalty of Rs111 billion on these companies for bringing in fake solar panel shipments. According to Shiraz Ahmed, Director Post Clearance Audit Karachi, the decision was issued by Deputy Collector Dr Iram Zahra. Documents reveal that 13 fake importing companies falsely declared solar panel imports worth Rs1.2 trillion to transfer money abroad. Meanwhile, Rs1.4 trillion was deposited into their bank accounts, of which Rs45 billion was deposited in cash. The adjudication ruling confirmed that these companies did not physically exist and only remained on paper. In their sales tax returns, they reported fake local sales of Rs85 billion under names of fictitious buyers. As per official record, the fined companies included Bright Star Business Solution, Peshawar (Rs53 billion), Moonlight Traders, Peshawar (Rs21 billion), Smart Impex, Quetta (Rs1.4 billion), Ehsan Importer & Exporter, Quetta (Rs2 billion), Asadullah Enterprises, Quetta (Rs1 billion), SH Traders (Rs1.2 billion), Delta Trading Company, Islamabad (Rs2.6 billion), Sehar International (Rs1.7 billion), Sky Linker Business Chain (Rs2 billion), Sky Linkers Trading Company (Rs8.6 billion), Pak Electronics (Rs500 million), Royal Zone (Rs16 billion) and Solar Site (Rs7.7 billion). The ruling stated that the accused involved in money laundering did not appear to defend their case, and therefore, an additional fine of Rs45 million was imposed on 45 individuals. Moreover, 327 containers of solar panels imported by Solar Site Pvt Ltd are currently held at Karachi ports. These consignments have been seized and will be auctioned to recover Rs1.5 billion in revenue.

Iesco, Fesco and Gepco set for sell-off by Dec-end
Iesco, Fesco and Gepco set for sell-off by Dec-end

Business Recorder

time24-07-2025

  • Business Recorder

Iesco, Fesco and Gepco set for sell-off by Dec-end

ISLAMABAD: Three electricity distribution companies - Iesco, Fesco and Gepco - will be ready for privatisation by the end of December this year. This was stated by an official of the Power Division in the National Assembly Standing Committee on Economic Affairs' meeting held under the chairmanship of Muhammad Atif Khan. Additional Secretary Power Division Mehfooz Bhatti, in his presentation, told the committee that along with Privatisation Commission, the Power Division is working on the privatisation of all 10 Discos. He said that the privatisation process of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco), Gujranwala Electric Power Company (Gepco) and Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco) is already in advance stage. 'The due diligence process of these three Discos is in final stage and Financial Advisor has also been hired,' he said. The official said as per his information, the Privatisation Commission is working on the financial structure and by December this year, Expressions of Interest (EOIs) would be invited and terms and conditions of sale purchase agreement will also be finalised. Chairman Committee Atif Khan said that no one is stopping the government from privatising the Discos but it does not mean hiring in these Discos should be stopped. He said in his constituency for hundreds of kilometers there is only one lineman and because of this people were facing a lot of hardship in getting their complaints addressed. The Power Division official clarified that their ministry did not stop any Disco from hiring necessary staff. MNA Sher Ali Arbab said that as per his knowledge there are 80,000 vacancies in all 10 Discos but Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has given approval to hire only 20,000-25,000 personnel to keep things afloat. Members, unanimously, expressed concern over the methodology that exclusively targets Discos with minimal transmission and distribution losses for privatisation. The committee emphasised that by limiting privatisation to only the most efficient utilities, the government would be compelled to retain chronically underperforming Discos, thereby, exacerbating existing operational challenges and making their eventual privatisation virtually unattainable. The Power Division official informed the committee that their current installed capacity is 39,952 MW that includes 46 percent from clean energy and 54 percent from fossil. The power sector informed that there is overreliance on fossil than clean energy. The Power Division presented a comprehensive overview of Pakistan's current power generation capacity to the Standing Committee, reporting a total installed capacity of 39,952 MW. The energy mix analysis revealed a concerning imbalance, with fossil fuel-based generation accounting for 54 percent compared to just 46 percent from clean energy sources. The committee was informed that Pakistan's power sector currently faces a significant surplus of approximately 7,000 to 8,000 MW in electricity generation capacity. Members expressed serious concern over the substantial financial burden imposed by capacity payments for this unused electricity, which continues to strain the national exchequer despite serving no practical purpose. The committee members raised serious concerns regarding the inequitable distribution of development projects and budget allocations for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the proposed federal budget for 2025-26. The committee noted with concern that while KP has a substantially larger population than Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), both regions have been allotted only two new projects each, reflecting an unjust disparity. Furthermore, the budgetary allocations for development projects across provinces revealed that Balochistan receiving Rs209.6 billion, Punjab Rs76.6 billion, Sindh Rs145.9 billion, and KP Rs30.843 billion. The Economic Affairs Division (EAD) informed the committee that it has filed appeals and interim relief applications, with hearings ongoing and the next scheduled for September 2025. Meanwhile, the EAD has sought the federal cabinet's in-principle approval for a new legislative framework, the 'Foreign Contributions (NGOs and NPOs) Regulation Act, 2025,' to address the legal gaps. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

Discos: JI chief condemns overbilling practices
Discos: JI chief condemns overbilling practices

Business Recorder

time23-07-2025

  • Business Recorder

Discos: JI chief condemns overbilling practices

LAHORE: Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, has strongly condemned the overbilling practices of power distribution companies, following the revelations in a recent audit report by the Auditor General of Pakistan. The report highlights over Rs 244 billion worth of unjustified billing imposed on the public under the guise of covering line losses and mismanagement. Commenting on the findings, Rehman said 'It is utterly shameful that the burden of Rs 244 billion is being placed on the public to cover up for inefficiencies and line losses. This is not just negligence; it is economic exploitation. The government must immediately return this amount to the people.' In a statement shared on social media platform X, the JI chief declared over billing as 'a grave form of corruption and administrative failure,' stressing that the citizens are being punished for the incompetence and mis governance of ruling authorities and related institutions. The Auditor General's report identified IESCO, LESCO, MEPCO, SEPCO, HESCO, PESCO, QESCO, and TESCO as the key culprits involved in the over billing. While the companies have reportedly claimed to have returned the amount, the audit report clarified that they failed to provide any verifiable evidence supporting their claims. Rehman reiterated his demand for full transparency and accountability, urging the government to take immediate corrective action and deliver justice to the overburdened consumers. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store