Developmental projects remain incomplete

Sluggish construction work exacerbates respiratory diseases

LAHORE:

Even though infrastructural and sanitation development projects are indispensable to the maintenance of urban life, an unforeseen delay in their completion can soon turn them into a shared source of inconvenience for the populace, who apart from bearing incessant gridlocks also has to deal with the negative repercussions of land and air pollution on their health.

For Punjab, 2023 was a year marked by pronounced uncertainty and instability, not only with regards to the political landscape but also in relation to the progress made on pending mega development projects across multiple metropolis and small cities in the core province, which under the dual governance of the previous government and the current caretaker administration, have been swinging back and forth at the slothful pace of a decelerating pendulum.

As per details obtained by the Express Tribune, several large-scale development projects worth billions of rupees were initiated across major cities like Lahore, Sahiwal, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, and Multan, however, almost none of them were able to reach completion during the current year.

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Among the list of pending projects were the renovation of eight underpasses, construction of five underpasses and four flyovers, revamping of several hospitals, upgradation of sewage systems and treatment plants, advancement of 100 parks, development of three sports complexes and the beautification of various avenues in Lahore.

Similarly, for the other cities too projects focusing on enhancing the sewage system, improving access to clean water, modifying routes on major highways like the Ring Road, and constructing new cells, offices and state-of-the-art complaint zones in jails, too were stuck in limbo.

Mian Irfan, Chief Executive Officer at a construction company, was of the opinion that all of the pending developmental projects will resume course in 2024 since the surfacing of numerous financial obstacles in 2023 had persistently delayed their timely completion. “For the coming year, the roles for the project will be the same, but the cost will be increased,” claimed Irfan.

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On a similar note, Noman Tipu, a retired engineer, claimed that many construction companies had raised the cost of construction by exceedingly large percentages in 2023 on the government’s orders.

“As per the rules set by the Pakistan Engineering Council, the government may raise development work costs by up to 30 per cent however, last year, many construction companies in the province increased the rates by almost 100 per cent. Furthermore, the Punjab Revenue Authority levies a 10 per cent tax and six per cent income tax on construction work. If the government gives the construction contract to a government agency, its six per cent income tax is waived and the amount would be given to the construction company for the remodeling of the mega project,” analyzed Tipu, who further disclosed that billions of rupees had been set aside for the remodeling of infrastructure in the province.

Where construction tycoons obsess over the nitty-gritty changes in costs and taxes expected in the coming year, residents living in areas with perpetually excavated roads shed light on a more alarming side of the story.

“Despite the roads being closed for over a year, the repair work could not be completed in 2023 for the upgradation of the sewage system. The construction agencies follow no work ethic as they recklessly excavate roads but do not bother completing what they initiated,” bemoaned Faisal Awan, a local from Lahore, who further claimed that the constant exposure to construction dust had led many of his neighbours to develop chronic respiratory and skin diseases over the course of the year.

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Awan’s observation was seconded by Dr Anwar Ahmad Sheikh, a dermatologist, who reported an increase in the number of patients seeking medical assistance for allergies, skin diseases and respiratory illnesses.

“It is interesting to note that most of these patients reside in areas where mega development projects have been in limbo since forever. Even though each person has a unique immune system, it is generally believed that consistent exposure to dust in the air, can instigate rashes, flu, and other respiratory diseases like asthma among locals,” highlighted Dr Sheikh, who further opined that medications were only a transient solution to the illnesses, which would only worsen with extended exposure to the industrial irritants in the upcoming year.

Speaking to the Express Tribune on the matter, a spokesperson for the Punjab government confirmed, “All projects that could not be completed in 2023 due to any reason, have been moved to the following fiscal year.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2023