Officials will only have to make announcements, with no funds to be released before August 2026
RAWALPINDI:
Three major public welfare projects in Rawalpindi – Leh Nullah Expressway, sewer tunnel and sewage treatment plant and Murree Road widening from Liaquat Bagh to Chandni Chowk – have been dropped from the ongoing financial year 2025-26.
The authorities have clearly conveyed that no funds will be released for these projects for the next eight months until August 31, 2026. Senior officials have been instructed to continue making announcements regarding the projects despite the lack of funding.
The fourth project, fencing both sides of the Lai Nullah with barbed wire to prevent dumping of waste and construction material, has also been completed. The Lai Nullah has been lying idle since 2007. Although the foundation stone for the 22-kilometer long project was laid, work was halted in 2008.
Its initial cost was estimated at Rs17 billion, which has now escalated to nearly Rs100 billion, eliminating the chances of commencement in 2026.
The sewer tunnel and water treatment project, initially estimated at Rs30 billion by 2021, was later revised to Rs52 billion. Although the Asian Development Bank had shown willingness to finance it, the project was delayed due to political reasons, and ADB has now withdrawn its support.
Murree Road was last carpeted in 2014.
Severe traffic congestion continues from Liaquat Bagh to 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 an estimated Rs9 billion. Due to financial constraints, the project has also been shelved and moved to the next financial year 2026-27, when the cost is likely to increase further.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi said the Punjab government was focusing on Rawalpindi’s development and special development packages will be announced by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
