The Children’s Hospital, RR, Kahuta Road and important water supply schemes remain incomplete
RAWALPINDI:
Several major development projects under construction in Rawalpindi have been carried forward to the new financial year 2026-27 after being incomplete at the end of FY2025-26.
These include the Children’s Hospital, Rawalpindi Ring Road Phase I and II, Raja Bazaar and Commercial Market Beautification Project, Rawalpindi-Kahuta Road and Chahan Dam Water Supply Project.
The status of proposed schemes including Daducha Dam, Chahan Dam, Leh Nullah Sewerage and Flood Control Channel, and alternative traffic routes are also expected to be determined during the new financial year.
According to sources, the Mother and Child Hospital, which has been under construction for the last 21 years, has been included in the budget for 2026-27 as the children’s hospital with an estimated cost of Rs 9.264 billion.
However, only Rs 494.402 million has been earmarked for the current financial year, while the remaining Rs 8.442 billion has been carried forward to FY2027-28, making completion during the current year unlikely.
The Rawalpindi-Kahuta Road project, which was included in the previous year’s budget at an estimated cost of Rs.23.845 billion, recorded only one kilometer of physical progress.
It has now been included in the new budget with a revised estimate of Rs23.545 billion, with only Rs1 billion allocated for the current year, making its completion uncertain.
The 38.6 kilometer Rawalpindi Ring Road Phase I, from Banth Interchange on GT Road to Thalian Interchange, costing Rs.46.64 billion, is nearing completion but is yet to become operational as a traffic route. Thalian Interchange, costing Rs.4.7 billion, is expected to be completed during the current financial year.
The Raja Bazaar and Commercial Market Underground Cabling and Beautification Project, which was launched at an initial cost of Rs875 million, is also expected to reach completion this year, after which its final cost will be determined.
The Asian Development Bank-assisted water supply project, drawing water from Chahan Dam, Rawal Dam and Khanpur Dam, costs over Rs 33 billion. and expected to supply Rawalpindi with an additional 17 million gallons of water per day, is now scheduled for completion in December 2027.
Work on Daducha Dam and Chahan Dam water supply projects could not begin in the previous financial year, but their future is expected to be decided in FY2026-27.
