Pindi prepares uplift plan for FY26
The plan, which awaits final approval from the Punjab government, includes major infrastructure initiatives under the "Urban Development Package" and "City Development Package."
The proposed projects consist of three underpasses, one flyover, a multi-storey parking plaza, and several road infrastructure schemes.
Each development initiative has been recommended by the respective members of the national and provincial assemblies.
The proposed ADP includes feasibility studies for an underpass at Chandni Chowk, another at Rawal Road on Murree Road, and a third at Marrir Chowk.
A flyover is also proposed from Siddiqui Chowk to IJP Road. Under the Urban Development Package, the dualisation of Adiala Road from Khasala Khurd to Gorakhpur is estimated to cost Rs2.539 billion.
Expansion and improvement of the 8.5-kilometre stretch from Girja Road (Thalian Interchange) to Akbar Chowk will cost Rs603.32 million. Development on Adiala Road, including the Chakri Link from School Road to Biscuit Factory Chowk and Talsa Road, is projected at Rs1,297.660 million.
Meanwhile, the upgrade of High Court Road from Bostan Khan Road to Car Chowk, Bilal Shaheed Chowk, and Scheme-3 Road will require Rs423.241 million.
Under the City Development Package, a multi-storey parking plaza will be constructed at Liaquat Bagh on the WASA Buzzer Site at a cost of Rs2,532.500 million.
An underpass at Stadium Road, linking Nanth Avenue to IJP Road, is projected to cost Rs770.320 million.
Restoration and improvement of the western alternative route from Chandni Chowk to Holy Family Hospital via IJP Road will require Rs335.04 million.
Upgrades on Murree Road from Hotel Flashman to Faizabad are budgeted at Rs953.250 million.
Improvement works on Dhoke Khabba, Hameed Khan Road, Rawal Road, Millat Colony, and Sher Power Colony Link Road are estimated to cost Rs998 million.
Construction on Pirwadhai Road from Chungi No 4 to Adda Pirwadhai will require Rs247.266 million.
Rehabilitation of Khayaban-e-Sir Syed Road from Chungi No 4 to IJP Road is projected at Rs256.689 million.
Service road development from Old Airport to Flying Club Road through Gulzar-e-Quaid will cost Rs224.227 million.
Roadwork from Rawal Road and Murree Road to Old Airport Road is expected to cost Rs584.952 million.
Internal road development in Ghazni Colony, Dosera Ground, and Syedpur Scheme is budgeted at Rs247.266 million.
Additionally, a pedestrian bridge will be constructed in front of Benazir Bhutto General Hospital on Murree Road, with an estimated cost of Rs66.434 million.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Three ecotourism projects planned
The Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department has initiated an ecotourism development programme at Changa Manga, Uchali Lake and Chashma Wetlands. The initiative, part of an Annual Development Programme (ADP) scheme funded by the provincial government, aims to establish environmentally responsible infrastructure that promotes nature-based tourism, wildlife conservation, and community engagement. According to official documents, the department has invited applications for pre-qualification from eligible contractors to undertake the development work. Firms licensed with the Pakistan Engineering Council and holding specific technical certifications are eligible to apply. Foreign companies may participate only in joint ventures with Pakistani firms. A mandatory requirement for all bidders is the engagement of an International ecotourism development specialist, who must remain involved throughout the project. Applicants are also required to demonstrate significant technical and financial credentials, including prior experience in large-scale infrastructure development, thematic recreational facilities such as safari parks or zoological gardens, and electrification works. The firms must show an average annual turnover of Rs4.5 billion over the last three years and have access to at least Rs3 billion in working capital or credit facilities. Companies engaged in the supply of wildlife must hold valid certifications from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the climate change ministry. This initiative designed in line with Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) criteria marks the province's first structured push to blend conservation with tourism. Officials from the forests, wildlife and fisheries department emphasised that the sites had been chosen for their ecological importance.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Pindi to get Rs150b infrastructure boost
The Punjab government has approved a record-breaking Rs150 billion development package for Rawalpindi under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) 2025-26the largest investment in the city's history. Aimed at resolving chronic traffic congestion, 13 major infrastructure projects will be executed by the Highway Division Rawalpindi to transform the city into a signal-free corridor. The initiative, aligned with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif's vision of a modern Punjab, includes the construction of underpasses, flyovers, and road expansions across key intersections. Once completed, the corridor will provide uninterrupted travel from T-Chowk on GT Road through the cantonment areas, linking Peshawar Road and the motorways on one end, and Islamabad Expressway to Kachehri Chowk on the other. Engr Raja Qamarul Islam, MNA and Chairman of the District Coordination Committee, stated that Rs29.9 billion worth of new schemes would significantly improve travel flow across Rawalpindi. Key allocations include: Race Course Underpass – Rs2.6 billion (Rs54 million released), Chairing Cross Underpass – Rs1.5 billion (Rs54 million released), Army Graveyard Chowk Underpass – Rs1.9 billion (Rs68 million released), Kachehri Chowk Flyover & Underpass – Rs4.45 billion (Rs160 million released), Jinnah Park Flyover – Rs4.15 billion (Rs149 million released), Ammar Chowk Flyover – Rs3.45 billion (Rs124 million released), Iftikhar Janjua Road Underpass – Rs1.93 billion (Rs69 million released), COD Chowk Underpass – Rs3.75 billion (Rs135 million released), Tulsa Road Underpass (Adiala) – Rs1.69 billion (Rs61 million released). Rana Qamar Ali, Executive Engineer of the Highway Department, confirmed that site surveys and interdepartmental coordination have already begun. He added that six new underpasses are planned along Peshawar Road, while the GPO Underpass and Nawaz Sharif Flyover on Adiala Road are among the initial high-impact projects. The development drive also includes regional road rehabilitation, such as upgrades from Mahil Malkan to Dhoke Baba Buland in Kallar Syedan and widening roads from Akbar Chowk to Thalian and Marble Factory Road. Raja Qamarul Islam noted that Murree Road's decongestion through the Metro Bus Project offers a blueprint for success. He emphasized that new flyovers and underpasses will resolve bottlenecks at Kachehri Chowk, Ammar Chowk, and Jinnah Park, improving connectivity to Mall Road, Adiala Road, and beyond. CM Maryam Nawaz has directed all departments to ensure strict adherence to timelines and quality standards. The plan is expected to significantly boost economic activity by improving access to business districts and reducing logistics costs. President of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), Usman Shaukat, praised the initiative but stressed the need for pedestrian-friendly, climate-conscious designs. "This should not only ease traffic but also support sustainable urban living," he said. The Rawalpindi package, if successfully implemented, could serve as a model for similar urban upgrades across Punjab.
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business Recorder
Fulfilling IMF conditions was no easy task, says CM Maryam
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz stated that the Punjab government's decision not to impose a single new tax in the provincial budget is nothing short of a miracle. She emphasized that instead of introducing new taxes, the government expanded the tax net. She also announced that Punjab's domestic debt, which had persisted for the last 30 years, had been reduced to zero. Addressing the Punjab Assembly, CM Maryam Nawaz said fulfilling the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) conditions while meeting the province's constitutional responsibilities was no easy task. She remarked that running over 150 development projects and allocating Punjab's resources for public welfare made achieving the IMF's stringent surplus target extremely challenging—yet her administration succeeded. Maryam Nawaz highlighted that unlike previous governments, her administration did not merely announce projects but also implemented Punjab's largest-ever annual cash-backed development program. She revealed that last year's Annual Development Program (ADP) was worth Rs. 840 billion, but due to successful project execution and public demand, it was increased to over Rs. 1 trillion. Out of this, Rs. 1.013 trillion had already been spent on public welfare, marking the highest allocation in Punjab's development history. She noted that Punjab's fund utilization, previously at Rs. 585 billion, had now reached Rs. 1,100 billion. The Chief Minister also expressed gratitude to the Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs), acknowledging that their support was instrumental in these achievements. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz added that those who once called for the political ouster of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had now been sidelined themselves—not by others, but by their own poor performance. 'Those who chanted 'minus Nawaz' are now themselves 'minus.' Even Aleema Khan has acknowledged this,' she said, referring to recent remarks by Khan's sister. Taking a firm stance against her opponents, the CM stated that false promises to South Punjab had long been a political tactic to form and dismantle governments. 'Unlike previous governments, we have moved beyond slogans. We are delivering on our promises,' she declared, announcing the launch of the province's largest clean drinking water project, starting in South Punjab. Her remarks were met with protests and noise from the opposition benches. Responding calmly, she said, 'Let them protest. I respect their democratic right.' Maryam also presented what she termed a 'historic' and 'tax-free' provincial budget of Rs. 5,335 billion, praising Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman and Finance Secretary Mujahid Sherdil for crafting a budget aligned with Nawaz Sharif's economic vision. Referencing military and diplomatic achievements, she congratulated the nation on 'the victory over India' and commended the armed forces and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for their leadership. She also condemned Israel's recent strikes on Iran, reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to peace and solidarity with the Iranian people. Maryam Nawaz underscored her administration's equitable development efforts, stating, 'Every district—whether Bhakkar, Layyah, Rajanpur, D.G. Khan, or Rahim Yar Khan—has the same share in development as Lahore.' She clarified that her competition was not with political rivals but with her own family's legacy. 'My benchmark is Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif—I aim to surpass their record of public service.' The Chief Minister also acknowledged the Mines and Minerals Department's contributions, citing Rs. 30 billion in savings, and noted that public spending had risen by only 3%, including pay and pension increases. Opposition members in the Punjab Assembly may be barred from entering the premises following their misconduct during Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's speech. They created chaos, hurled abusive slogans, and tore copies of the agenda, throwing them toward the Chief Minister and Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan. During her address, opposition members attempted to approach the Speaker's chair, shouting slogans and disrupting proceedings. Government members intervened to restrain them. Sources indicate the opposition could face entry restrictions due to their actions, including storming the Speaker's podium, using inappropriate language, and throwing documents. It may be recalled that Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan had issued a ruling the previous day outlining a code of conduct for assembly sessions. The ruling prohibits reading books/newspapers or bringing them into the house. It also prohibits passing between a speaking member and the chair. Additionally, eating, drinking, chewing, or smoking inside the assembly is not allowed. Damaging furniture or electronic equipment is strictly prohibited, and carrying sticks or rods without the Speaker's permission is forbidden. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
