235 schemes okayed for Pindi
People walk along on a street in the old city area of Rawalpindi, where some buildings date back to British era. PHOTO: EXPRESS
Rawalpindi Division Commissioner Liaqat Ali Chatha Saturday said that under the Annual Development Programme 2022-23, around 235 new schemes worth 94,564 million have been launched in Rawalpindi Division.
According to a statement, he disclosed these facts while presiding over the review meeting of the ADP 2022-23.
The commissioner said that once completed, these projects would raise the living standard of the people of Rawalpindi.
Out of the total allocated budget, funds worth Rs7,147 million were released out of which 71% have been utilised so far, he was informed in the meeting.
Liaquat Ali Chatha directed that preference should be given to the buildings of educational institutions and necessary action should be taken regarding buildings that have been declared dangerous.
“Apart from this, measures should also be taken to provide missing facilities in schools to improve the educational standards, he said.
The commissioner went on to say that policy guidelines given for these projects should be followed according to the law and timely completion should be ensured by using quality materials, he added.
“Timely completion is essential to make projects effective as delays cause hardship rather than convenience.”
Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Director General Saif Anwar Jappa, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Nabil Sindhu, Assistant Director Moazzam Ali, and officials of various departments concerned attended the meeting.
During the briefing, it was informed that 640 schemes worth Rs273,482 million have been allocated for the division under the annual development programme. Of these, 405 are currently under way while 235 are new.
“A total of Rs25,928 million funds have been released for these schemes so far and 78% have been utilised.”
The commissioner was told that the annual development programme also included 120 schemes for the Attock district, 99 for Chakwal district, 66 for Jehlum district, 52 for Murree district, and 303 for the Rawalpindi district.
Officials said around 303 schemes were sanctioned for the Rawalpindi district, out of which 123 are new and 180 are under way.
These projects include 72 road projects, 32 public buildings, 6 specialised healthcare and medical facilities, 11 primary and secondary healthcare projects, 33 projects of WASA, 7 irrigation schemes, 42 schemes of community development, 26 schemes of school education, and 09 schemes of higher education.
Liaquat Ali Chatta said after completion, these schemes will help uplift people’s lives.
It's worth noting here that the previous year proved very dim for the Rawalpindi Division’s uplift projects.
Despite repeated promises, the federal and provincial governments deferred the long-delayed and most significant projects of water supply, road infrastructure, and health service.
However, in the last month of the previous year, the then Rawalpindi commissioner approved the inclusion of 558 public welfare projects under the Annual Development Programme 2022-23.
According to the spokesperson of the district administration, a review meeting of annual development schemes was held in December 2022 under the chair of the then commissioner Saqib Manan wherein he directed that the deputy commissioners concerned to monitor the progress of different development schemes and ensure quality construction work in their respective districts.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2023.