
Newly built Jinnah Square collapses after heavy rain in Islamabad
The newly inaugurated Jinnah Square project in the federal capital has come under heavy criticism after a section of the road collapsed during the season's first monsoon rain, exposing serious concerns about construction quality.
The road near Serena Chowk caved in just weeks after completion, causing significant traffic disruption and drawing public anger. Rs4.2 billion project was completed in just 84 days and had been hailed by the government as a model of rapid development.
'This is a cruel joke on taxpayers. If a multi-billion-rupee road can't withstand a single spell of rain, it reflects alarming negligence,' said a commuter at the site.
The affected section, a loop connecting G-5 to Aabpara, reportedly sank following the rainfall, impeding traffic and raising safety concerns. Construction experts have demanded an independent investigation into the project's structural integrity.
Capital Development Authority (CDA) teams began emergency repairs soon after the collapse. However, engineers and citizens alike have expressed serious doubts about the quality and oversight of the construction.
The public is now urging Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the CDA chairman to launch an inquiry and hold those responsible for any negligence or malpractice accountable.

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