RAWALPINDI:
The Rawalpindi ring road project, which has faced prolonged delays and repeated controversies, is once again shrouded in uncertainty over whether it can be inaugurated on August 14, despite the completion of the main route, following a fresh controversy over the no-objection certificate (NOC) for its service area.
The Ring Road controversy led, for the second time, to the removal of the commissioner, deputy commissioner and other officials from their posts.
According to details, the project was suspended during the tenure of former Prime Minister Imran Khan after changes in its design and expansion of the route sparked a controversy that also resulted in the dismissal of several administrative officers. Since then, the Punjab government has set six deadlines to complete the project.
Following the visit of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the first deadline was December 30, 2025, followed by March 30, 2026, May 30, June 15 and a target of inauguration and commissioning of the road between June 18 and June 22. None of these deadlines were met.
The sixth deadline, August 14, was set after the completion of the construction of the road connecting Banth Interchange with a direct highway link, excluding Thalian Interchange, while work on eight toll plazas and 16 toll plazas continues.
However, fresh controversy over the NOC for a 102-kanal, 14-marla service area being developed on both sides of the Ring Road has once again created uncertainty over the planned inauguration.
Meanwhile, a division bench of the Lahore High Court stayed the single bench order confirming the NOC and fixed July 16 for the next hearing.
It is pertinent to mention that following the controversy, former engineer commissioner Abdul Aamer Khattak, deputy commissioner Waqar Hassan Cheema, former director general of RDA and current director general of Abad department Kunza Murtaza, along with two other officers, were removed from service and transferred to S&GAD.
Newly appointed Commissioner Salman Ghani, Deputy Commissioner Nadeem Nasir and Director General of Abad Department Rao Atif Raza took over the duties.
