Latest news with #DistrictCoordinationCommittee
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Business
- 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.
Hans India
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Gujarat: 700 documents examined, 100 individuals questioned in Narmada fake income probe
The Narmada Police in Gujarat have sprung into action following serious concerns raised by a Member of Parliament, Mansukh Vasava, during the District Coordination Committee meeting regarding fraudulent income certificates being used in the district. The MP highlighted that several bogus documents were allegedly being created and used to claim entitlements such as old age pensions, widow pensions, and possibly even benefits under the Right to Information (RTI) scheme. The concern was not only about the false claims but also about the potential involvement of middlemen, private agents, or even government personnel who may be facilitating this fraudulent practice. The Superintendent of Police (SP) of Narmada district constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP), who is heading the SIT, confirmed that around 700 documents have been examined so far, and 100 individuals were questioned at Rajpipla Police Station as part of the ongoing investigation. 'If the documents are found to be falsified, the individuals responsible for submitting them will be treated as accused in the case,' said the DySP. Notably, some of the alleged accused have already applied for anticipatory bail in the district court. The Narmada Police have filed objections to these applications, and the matter is currently under judicial review. The SIT is also probing whether any government officials or private agents played a role in the creation of these bogus documents. If found complicit, their names will be added to the list of accused. Authorities are also investigating that if the forged documents were used to exploit government welfare schemes, such as old age pensions, widow pensions, or benefits under the RTI scheme. The police emphasised that there is no political interference in the investigation and that the force is committed to conducting the probe fairly and impartially. 'The rule of law will prevail. No one, regardless of their position or connection, will be spared if found guilty,' the DySP concluded.
Express Tribune
26-04-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
DG Khan bans wheat pills after surge in suicides
Authorities in Dera Ghazi Khan have moved to curb a deadly new trend in suicides: the ingestion of toxic "wheat pills" intended to preserve harvested grain. In a span of one year, the district's Trauma Centre alone treated 215 cases of wheat-pill poisoning, 55 of which proved fatal. Over the past four months, as the wheat harvest got underway, doctors have already admitted 81 more cases, with rural health centres and civil hospitals reporting even higher numbers. Historically, "black stone" poisonings were the method of choice for self-harm and covert killings in the region. After the district administration banned open sales of that toxic mineral, those figures declined significantly. However, the newer practice of storing poisonous insecticide tablets among harvested wheat kernels has surged in popularity, leading to the current public health crisis. During a recent meeting of the District Coordination Committee, members expressed grave concern over the alarming statistics. They urged Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Usman Khalid to collaborate with the Food Department to regulate or outright prohibit the sale of these grain-preservation pills. Sheikh Muhammad Naqeeb, president of the Central Traders Association, along with city officials Jan Alam Khan Laghari, Javed Haideri, and Khurram Ishaq, demanded immediate action to safeguard lives and stem further loss. Responding to these calls, Commissioner Ashfaq Ahmed Chaudhry invoked Section?144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, enforcing a one-month ban on the possession, purchase, and sale of both wheat pills and black stone across the district. The order, issued at the written request of the Medical Superintendent of the Teaching Hospital and the Deputy Director of Agriculture, took effect immediately. "The ICU and emergency departments have seen a marked increase in young patients presenting with deliberate ingestion of these toxic substances," the hospital report warned. "Without prompt intervention, we risk losing more of our youth to this preventable menace." Under the ban, law enforcement officers have been instructed to confiscate any stockpiles of grain-preservation tablets and black stone found in markets.
