Punjab freezes funds of 40 district councils

Rawalpindi Council funds shift to tehsils; 286 schemes fall victim to restructuring

RAWALPINDI:

The funds of all 40 district councils across Punjab, including the Rawalpindi District Council, have been frozen following the introduction of the new local government system, resulting in the cancellation of all 286 small and large development schemes of the Rawalpindi District Council.

The transfer of district council funds to the newly established tehsil councils has begun, while contractors registered with the district council are also being registered with the respective tehsil councils.

Following the Punjab government's decision to freeze the funds of all 40 district councils, including Rawalpindi, the funds are being transferred to the tehsil councils.

Only those development schemes that are in the final stages of completion are being allowed to continue, while all other grants and development funds are being placed under the control of the newly constituted tehsil councils.

Earlier, the Rawalpindi District Council had approved a budget of Rs7.84 billion, of which around Rs3b had been earmarked for local-level grants and development schemes.

Following the freezing of the district council's funds, new water-supply and grant-funded projects in Rawalpindi district are now being implemented through the newly established tehsil councils and the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA).

Water-supply projects previously undertaken by the district council will now be completed by WASA. The Chahan Dam Water Supply Project, which aims to provide 12 million gallons of clean water per day and serve a population of around one million, is also being executed by WASA.

Under the Punjab chief minister's recent Clean Drinking Water pilot project, the supply of clean drinking water through pipeline networks and filtration plants has been initiated in underdeveloped areas of Rawalpindi and Chaklala.