Talking to The Express Tribune, officials of Provincial Works Department (PWD) said the project has been delayed due to the rising costs of construction material and suspension of work for about five months during the judicial crisis. President District Bar Association Malik Waheed Anjum said they were trying to get the complex partially functional by the end of this year, but due to delays in awarding tenders, the project has been further delayed. The latest tender for the project, worth Rs39.4 million, was approved on September 7, 2009.
Anjum said the association has held meetings with authorities concerned, requesting them to speed up the construction work and “have also urged the Punjab government to complete the project as soon as possible”.
Rawalpindi Katchehri lawyers practicing in the district courts have demanded early completion of the project and said that space in the present courts was “shrinking” since special courts have shifted into the building.
The Rs310 million project was initiated in 2007 by PWD and was expected to be completed within two years, ending 2009. The project aimed to facilitate lawyers of Rawalpindi, given the dilapidated condition of Rawalpindi courts. The project was inaugurated by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry under the Access to Justice Programme.
According to PWD officials, the new Judicial Complex includes five sets of buildings with 44 courtrooms, proper sitting and waiting arrangements and parking sheds for judges and court staff.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 25th, 2010.
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