Rapid construction of road causes a stir

City developer says paths in the area have always been given preference


Our Correspondent October 17, 2017
PHOTO: APP

LAHORE: In order to please the in-laws of deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s niece Mehrunnisa, city developers reportedly rebuilt all the roads leading to her residences in Bawa Park on the Upper Mall.

However, none of the due processes were completed and the work lasted a mere eight hours. An employee of an organisation, working in the same neighbourhood, told The Express Tribune that roads in the area had never been in a state of disrepair as it is one of the posh localities of the city.

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“Thanks to the city developers for re-carpeting all roads of the area in a few hours. I believe if the provincial and district governments paid similar attention to the entire city, the situation would have been a lot better for all,” he said.

Officials aware of the construction of roads in Bawa Park area said development projects worth millions of rupees were underway in the city. “What is the big deal if city developers have rebuilt a few roads on a priority basis?”

A senior engineer of a leading construction company working on various development projects in the city and across country said that hundreds of big and small contractors work with city developers throughout the year.

“From a political perspective, it may not sound appropriate given that the niece of a former prime minister is living in the same neighbourhood. But if you compare it with other ongoing projects in the city, it may be the smallest job. Two to three inches asphalt laying on a kilometre road of the same width would cost Rs3.5 and Rs4 million, which is peanuts when compared to big road and transport projects that the present government has completed in the city,” he maintained.

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The family under discussion also owns one of the biggest construction companies in Pakistan and has ample resources to rebuild roads in their own neighbourhood, he said, adding that their company has recently completed Islamabad International Airport and several other mega projects.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 17th, 2017.

COMMENTS (1)

Sundus Saleem | 6 years ago | Reply Mehrun NIsa is NS's grand daughter not niece.
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