Public assets rot, vanish in open dump

Exposure to weather and lack of security lead to deterioration and theft of parts

RAWALPINDI:

Valuable government equipment, including specially designed security cabins and sanitation vehicles, has reportedly been left exposed to damage and theft in Rawalpindi due to what observers describe as administrative negligence and lack of oversight.

The cabins, originally installed during Eid Miladun Nabi processions in 2025 for the security screening of women and bearing images of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, were later removed and dumped in an open area outside the facilitation centre at the district courts complex. Since then, parts of the structures, including metal components, have allegedly been stolen.

The site, located in front of the facilitation centre near the district courts, has effectively been turned into a dumping ground for a range of items, including obsolete vehicles, newly procured sanitation machinery under the "Clean Punjab" initiative, waste collection trolleys and tractors, as well as the decorative cabins.

Reports indicate that none of these assets are being stored under secure conditions. Several newly acquired sanitation vehicles have developed punctured tyres, while spare parts and tyres have reportedly gone missing.

Meanwhile, the cabins have been left in the open for months, leading to deterioration due to exposure to sun and rain, with their condition steadily worsening.

The vehicles have reportedly been parked in the open for nearly a year, while the cabins have remained there for approximately six months. Recent rainfall has further damaged both the vehicles and the cabins, causing paintwork to deteriorate and raising concerns that the assets may soon become unusable.

Officials and observers note that the cabins could still be refurbished and reused for upcoming Eid Miladun Nabi processions if preserved properly. However, continued exposure for a few more months could render them completely unserviceable.

Sources suggest that the district administration lacks adequate warehouse facilities with boundary walls and covered storage space, resulting in valuable assets being left in open areas or in an adjacent uncovered basement. The absence of dedicated security arrangements has reportedly made the site vulnerable to theft, particularly during night hours.

A spokesperson for the district council maintained that the premises, including the facilitation centre, are protected by a comprehensive security system, with closed-circuit cameras installed.