Key infrastructure projects face delays
Two major signal-free road infrastructure projects in Rawalpindi, worth over Rs6.5 billion, have missed their completion deadlines, causing significant inconvenience to residents. These include the Nawaz Sharif Flyover at Khawaja Corporation Chowk on Adiala Road and underpasses on Mall Road at KTM Chowk, Mall Plaza, and the pedestrian underpass at Medicine Market.
While the flyover at Khawaja Corporation Chowk has been completed, carpeting and beautification work remains pending.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had set a deadline of May 31 for its completion, but the project remains unfinished. This project alone costs Rs2.3 billion.
Similarly, the Rs4.38 billion underpasses and pedestrian underpass project on Mall Road, originally set for completion in 45 days, remains incomplete even after 100 days. As a result, access to key locations including hospitals, the Mega Medicine Market, PIA, State Life, and Cantonment offices has been disrupted.
Zahid Bakhtawari, President of Anjuman Shehriyan Rawalpindi, criticised the delay, sayinag the situation has become unbearable for patients and businesses. Promises made to complete the work in 45 days have not been fulfilled.
PML-N MNA from Cantt, Malik Abrar Ahmed, stated efforts are ongoing to prevent further delays. He emphasized that in high-level meetings, authorities have been directed to speed up the work. If both projects are completed within the next 15 days, a joint inauguration could be held, pending the Chief Minister's schedule. While C\&W Department officials had earlier confirmed the May 31 deadline, they are now unwilling to comment on the delay.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
11 hours ago
- Express Tribune
South Punjab to get e-buses on priority
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz inspects a ramp for differently-abled passengers in an electric bus which is set to ply on the roads in Lahore. photo: express Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has ordered the provision of more electric buses for the districts in South Punjab. Chairing a meeting in which the transport department briefed her on its projects and the progress made on the electric bus project was reviewed, the chief minister said the remote areas should be given priority in the provision of electric buses. She emphasised, "The culture of always giving every new facility to big cities must be changed. We will bring rural areas at par with the major cities." She ordered that 240 electric buses should be given on a priority basis to 24 districts. In the first phase, the 240 e-buses will be provided to relatively underdeveloped districts. Between August and October, 500 e-buses will be provided for Lahore, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Multan and Rawalpindi. From November to December, 600 additional electric buses will arrive in Punjab. The chief minister highlighted, "Under the Punjab Clean Air Programme, 400 electric buses will be provided to Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Kasur and Lahore." A detailed review was conducted of the Gujranwala Bus Rapid Transit project. In order to connect the entire city and suburban areas, 80 feeder buses will be launched. On the 22km-long BRT system from Rahwali to Eminabad, 28 stations will be established. A proposal to extend the Gujranwala BRT route was also reviewed. The BRT system will provide two-way transportation after every eight minutes. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif issued directives that traffic along the Gujranwala BRT route should be managed through a smart traffic control solution. For this project, four electric bus depots will be established in Gujranwala. In the meeting, progress on the Orange Line and Red Line transport systems in Faisalabad was also reviewed. The Red Line will be 23.4km long, with 24 stations, and is expected to transport more than 185,000 passengers daily. The Orange Line will be 29km long, with 21 stations, and is expected to transport over 111,000 passengers daily. On the chief minister's instruction, the route from the FIEDMC to Salami Chowk has been included in the project. The chief minister directed the transport department to immediately start all public welfare projects, and said the e-bus routes should be determined while keeping in view the public commuting needs.
Express Tribune
15 hours ago
- Express Tribune
PIA CEO seeks govt help to reopen UK route
PIA Chief Executive Officer Pakistan International Airlines AVM Amir Hayat on Saturday called on Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar. Appreciating the DPM/FM's continued support, he requested further diplomatic assistance for the resumption of flights to the UK. Dar informed that he and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were actively engaged with the UK authorities to ensure the lifting of the ban at the earliest. The CEO acknowledged that during the PDM government (20222023) necessary groundwork was laid, enabling PIA & CAA to meet ICAO requirements.
Business Recorder
17 hours ago
- Business Recorder
PTI says not afraid of penalties & disqualification
LAHORE: Tensions in the Punjab Assembly deepened this week as opposition lawmakers condemned disciplinary actions against them following a protest during the provincial budget session, accusing the Punjab Assembly Speaker of acting on government directives and stifling dissent. Addressing the Assembly and media on Saturday, Opposition Leader Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar declared that the opposition would continue its protest campaign 'inside and outside' the legislature, regardless of penalties or disqualification threats. 'We are not afraid of being de-seated or fined. It was the collective decision of our parliamentary party,' Bhachar said. He criticised Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan for allegedly refusing him the right to speak, despite procedural entitlements. 'When the opposition leader rises, he is entitled to the mic under assembly rules,' Bhachar argued. He also accused the Speaker of violating legislative procedures and taking dictation from Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, rather than upholding neutrality as the house custodian. The protest, held during Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's budget speech on Friday, saw opposition lawmakers chanting slogans, surrounding the Speaker's dais, and tearing documents. In response, the Speaker suspended over two dozen members, including Malik Fahad Masood, Tanveer Aslam, Riffat Mahmood, Yasir Qureshi, and others. He announced that references for disqualification would be submitted to the Election Commission and fines exceeding Rs2 million were imposed on 10 PTI lawmakers for previous disruptions. 'Protest is everyone's right, but it must remain within constitutional and procedural bounds,' the Speaker stated in a press conference. 'No member can be allowed to hijack the system.' Bhachar, however, remained defiant. 'This government behaves like a Pharaoh, but every Pharaoh has a Moses. Ours is already here — and he sits in Adiala Jail, cell 804,' he said, referencing incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan. 'They stole our mandate using Form 47, took away reserved seats, and now want to rob us of our right to protest.' Speaking alongside PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja and senior leader Sardar Latif Khosa, Bhachar reiterated that their demonstration was peaceful and within democratic norms. 'If our criticism of authoritarianism is considered an insult, then we will continue to insult such tyranny,' he said, referencing the PML-N's own aggressive tactics during the previous government's tenure. Raja emphasised that the people of Pakistan demand dignity and democratic representation. 'It's a fallacy to assume the masses are indifferent. They have always voted for democracy and want their votes to count,' he said. He urged those wielding 'real power' to engage in dialogue and criticised the current administration as lacking legitimacy. 'This is a government on crutches, and even they admit they are operating under compulsion.' Raja added that PTI is open to aligning with other political parties if they commit to a genuine democratic struggle, not merely opportunistic alliances. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
