Cash crunch puts brakes on uplift projects

The Rawalpindi district is currently facing a severe economic and financial crisis, which has led to the suspension of seven major development projects initially planned for the financial year 2024-25.

The projects affected include the Mother and Child Hospital, the Nullah Leh Expressway, fencing on both sides of Nullah Leh, the Dadhocha Dam, the Ghazi Barotha Dam, the Sewage Water Treatment Plant, and three large commercial parking plaza projects in Rawalpindi.

Additionally, the ongoing Rawalpindi Ring Road project has also been delayed due to financial constraints.

These projects, which have been in various stages of planning and execution for years, have seen their estimated costs soar due to continuous delays.

For instance, the canal project, which was originally estimated to cost Rs17 billion in 2007, now has an estimated cost exceeding Rs100 billion. Similarly, the Sewage Water Treatment Plant initially planned for the Rakh Dhamial location with an estimated cost of Rs30 billion, has seen its cost escalate to over Rs45 billion. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) had committed funds for this project, but the persistent delays have significantly increased its financial burden.

The Ghazi Barotha project has also witnessed a steep rise in its estimated cost, now standing at a staggering Rs110 billion.

One of the most notable casualties of this economic crisis was the Mother and Child Hospital, which was 90 per cent complete before work was halted. The hospital's buildings, although structurally complete, remain unfinished due to the lack of essential components such as windows and doors.

This incomplete state has turned the facility into a haven for stray animals and drug addicts. Addicts are often seen smoking heroin within the premises after sunset, and theft has become rampant, with thieves stealing the broken iron windows. This project, which was initiated by former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, has been effectively abandoned by the current government, leaving it in a state of disrepair for the past three years.

The contractor responsible for the project has been dismissed, further complicating the situation.

As a result of these financial challenges, the Rawalpindi District Council and all six municipal committees have halted all mega projects for the new financial year. The cancellation of these projects means that no major development initiatives will be undertaken in Rawalpindi during this period.