Two new districts carved out of Pindi Division

Number of districts rises to six; health, other facilities to improve

RAWALPINDI:

With the approval of Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi two new districts have been carved out of Rawalpindi Division. The total number of districts in the division has risen to six.

Former tehsils, Murree and Talagang, have been elevated to the status of districts which has kindled hope of improved health, education and other civic facilities. Sources said the newly approved districts will consist of two tehsils each.

The senior member of the Rawalpindi Board of Revenue issued a notification for the creation of the new districts. The announcement has also set off celebrations under the leadership of political representatives of the districts.

Following the move, a race for the appointment of deputy commissioners and district police officers in the two districts has also reportedly begun. Notifications for the upgradation of 31 government departments in the nascent districts are expected to be issued by Monday [tomorrow].

Meanwhile, the tehsil headquarters hospitals of both the new districts have been elevated to the status of district headquarters hospitals. According to the notification, the Murree district will consist of Kotli Sattian and all union councils and villages of the former tehsil.

The move has also kicked off the process of establishing DHQ hospital, DC office, DPO office, district courts, and other facilities for education and health along with 31 other departments. Locations for the district headquarters have also been selected.

According to the notification, a total of 3,600 staff will administer the said areas. To enhance the tourism industry in the region, comprehensive planning and implementation will be ensured to make various services public and tourist-friendly.

Rawalpindi will retain the total number of seven tehsils including City, Cantt, Saddar, Kahuta, Kallar Syedan, Gujjar Khan and Taxila. On the other hand, the Talagang district will have Talagang and Lawa tehsils. The number of tehsils in district Chakwal has been reduced to three which include Chakwal, Choa Saidan Shah and Kallar Kahar.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2022.