Rawat market falls prey to political, financial woes

Change of government stalled progress as project cost ballooned

RAWALPINDI:

An approved plan for the construction of a vegetable, fruit and flower market near Rawat in Rawalpindi has been cancelled, with the initial funds also returned to the Punjab government.

The project was approved at the time of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf but suffered from administrative delays as the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) -led government came to power.

Following the arrival of the caretaker setup, the project was unceremoniously rescinded with the funds returned to the provincial government, said one official privy to developments. Officials cited ‘several economic and financial crises’ as the reason for the cancellation of the project.

The estimated cost of the project was Rs300 million, but with the delays, the cost is now expected to exceed Rs600 million.

As part of the plans for the market, the administration had invoked Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act. It was for this purpose that funds to the tune of Rs50 million were provided for the market. Former chairman of the district market committee, Chaudhary Imtiaz Ahmed, was credited with ensuring the release of funds at that time.

Meanwhile, the project was stalled during the PDM government before being dropped ahead of the scheduled time of its completion with funds withdrawn.

Meanwhile, the caretaker government dissolved committees across Punjab. This means that the district market committee has been without a chairman for the past one year – with the committee virtually dead – while the deputy commissioner is acting as administrator temporarily.

The proposed fruit, vegetable and flower market was to be built over three acres.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd, 2023.