Pindi’s mega uplift projects put on backburner

RAWALPINDI:

The Tehreek-e-Insaf Punjab government has chosen to launch short-term development projects rather than long-term ones in the Rawalpindi district to gain political mileage ahead of the general election.

These short-term projects will be completed in three to eight months.

All mega projects including the Rawalpindi Ring Road, the Nullah Leh Expressway, Ghazi Barotha and Dadocha dams have now been put in the backburner until the start of the next fiscal year.

This will further escalate the estimated cost of the projects by up to 35 per cent.

A total of 378 short-term development projects worth over Rs1 billion and funds have also been released for them. All these schemes have bee recommended by PTI members of national and Punjab assemblies.

The only mega scheme, the Katchehry Chowk underpasses project, will be started in December.

Rawalpindi Development Authority Chairman Tariq Murtaza said “we have decided to launch short-term projects so that a maximum number of people could benefit. He said that due to constant delays, the estimated cost of the Rawalpindi Ring Road, Ghazi Brotha Dam and the Leh Express have ballooned and they must now be re-approved.

Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Wasiq Qayyum said not only 378 projects have been approved but also their contracts will be issued in December.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2022.