Rawalpindi's key public welfare schemes put on hold

Officials to make announcements only, with no funds to be released till August 2026

RAWALPINDI:

Three major public welfare projects in Rawalpindi — Leh Nullah Expressway, sewerage tunnel and sewerage water treatment plant, and Murree Road expansion from Liaquat Bagh to Chandni Chowk — have been dropped from the ongoing fiscal year 2025-26.

Authorities have clearly conveyed that no funds will be released for these projects for the next eight months, up to August 31, 2026. Senior officials have been instructed to continue making announcements regarding the projects despite the absence of funding.

The fourth project, fencing both sides of Lai Nullah with barbed wire to prevent dumping of waste and construction material, has also been terminated. Lai Nullah has remained stalled since 2007. Although the foundation stone for the 22-kilometre project was laid, work was halted in 2008.

Its initial cost was estimated at Rs17 billion, which has now escalated to nearly Rs100 billion, eliminating chances of commencement in 2026.

The sewerage tunnel and water treatment project, initially estimated at Rs30 billion in 2021, was later revised to Rs52 billion. Although the Asian Development Bank had shown willingness to finance it, the project was delayed due to political reasons and ADB has now withdrawn support.

Murree Road was last carpeted in 2014.

Severe traffic congestion persists from Liaquat Bagh to Chandni Chowk between 8am and 9pm. A proposal to widen both sides by 20 feet, acquire land, and construct 15-foot-wide service roads carried an estimated cost of Rs9 billion. Due to financial constraints, the project has also been shelved and shifted to the next fiscal year 2026-27, with costs likely to rise further.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi said the Punjab government was focusing on Rawalpindi's development and that special development packages would be announced by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.