Govt fails to complete public interest project

Rs120b announced for three projects but the foundation stone for any is yet to be laid

RAWALPINDI: Despite repeated electoral promises, the incumbent federal government led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has failed to initiate and complete any project of public interest for Rawalpindi, despite being close to completing one year of its tenure.

Following the footsteps of the previous government, PTI has limited itself to only announcements of development projects.

Much-needed development projects such as the Ghazi Barotha Water Project, ML-I Railway, Murree Bulk Water Project, Ring Road Project, Leh Expressway and Urology Center and others have been pending.

The chief minister and the federal railways' minister made announcements for projects worth Rs120 billion, including the Ring Road project, Leh Expressway and Ghazi Barotha water supply project.

However, despite the passage of months, the foundation has still not been laid for any of these projects. To worsen matters, the land acquisition process for these three projects has yet to be completed as well.

When The Express Tribune spoke with the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Chairman Arif Abbasi, he said that the paperwork on all mega projects is underway while meetings on their progress were being held every other week.

He said that the PC-1 and the feasibility reports of various long-standing projects were being prepared again and assured that all related processes would be completed within the next three months.

He asserted that the foundation stones of various projects would be laid by January next year after which their working would start.

Parliamentary Secretary Shiekh Rashid Shafiq said that the foundation of Leh Expressway would be laid by the prime minister at Liaquat Bagh soon after the monsoon season.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 5^th, 2019.