Officials must make announcements only, with no funds expected to be released until August 2026.
RAWALPINDI:
Three major public welfare projects in Rawalpindi – Leh Nullah Expressway, Sewerage Tunnel and Sewage Treatment Plant, and expansion of Murree Road from Liaquat Bagh to Chandni Chowk – have been shelved for the current financial year 2025-2026.
The authorities have made it clear that no funds will be released for these projects in the next eight months, i.e. until August 31, 2026. Top officials have been instructed to continue making announcements regarding the projects despite the lack of funding.
The fourth project, which involves fencing both sides of Lai Nullah with barbed wire to prevent the dumping of waste and construction materials, was also abandoned. Lai Nullah has been stalled since 2007. Although the foundation stone of the 22-kilometer project was laid, work was halted in 2008.
Its initial cost was estimated at 17 billion rupees, which has now increased to almost 100 billion rupees, eliminating the chances of starting in 2026.
The sanitation and water treatment tunnel project, initially estimated at Rs30 billion in 2021, was then revised to Rs52 billion. Although the Asian Development Bank was willing to finance it, the project was delayed for political reasons and the ADB has now withdrawn its support.
Murree Road was last carpeted in 2014.
Severe traffic jams persist between Liaquat Bagh and Chandni Chowk between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. A proposal to widen both sides by 20 feet, acquire land and construct 15 feet wide service roads cost around Rs 9 billion. Due to financial constraints, the project has also been suspended and postponed to the next financial year 2026-2027, with costs likely to increase further.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi said that the Punjab government was focusing on the development of Rawalpindi and special development programs would be announced by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
