Tussle for Punjab prize imperils uplift projects

Political impasse pushes tenders for 130 schemes to brink of cancellation

RAWALPINDI:

As the battle heats up in the country’s political heartland, its adverse effects can be felt in the day-to-day and bureaucratic affairs of other parts of the nation.

The political impasse has once again pushed the tenders for around 130 major development schemes of the Rawalpindi district council, due to be held on December 27, to the brink of cancellation.

According to sources, open courts scheduled for Wednesday have been cancelled abruptly. They said the distribution of the assets and appointments of new district officers have also been postponed in the two newly-formed districts of Murree and Talagang.

On Wednesday, all major government offices across the district, including the commissioner’s office, deputy commissioner’s office, assistant commissioners’ offices, the finance department, and the offices of RPO and CPO wore a deserted look as the clouds of uncertainty thickened.

The sources said bureaucrats stuck their noses in political commentary throughout the day and shunned public dealing. They also said a go-slow policy can be seen in matters of ongoing development schemes across the district.

All the provincial assembly members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf have flocked to Lahore and due to this various political and social activities have been cancelled.

Uncertain about the outcomes, the bureaucracy and heads of various institutions have started soft-pedalling the implementation of the orders of the Punjab governor, chief minister and chief secretary.

Meanwhile, due to the postponement of open courts, citizens faced severe difficulties. Official sources also believe that the change of government in Punjab may roll back the process of the creation of new districts in the Rawalpindi division.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 22^nd, 2022.