RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government has approved 204 development schemes for Rawalpindi district under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) and asked the district administration to conclude these projects by January next year.

The provincial government had asked the five MNAs and eight MPAs belonging to the PML-N in Rawalpindi to share their proposals for development schemes not exceeding Rs295 million. As a result, the government received 204 schemes for the district in addition to almost 200 schemes for other districts – Attock, Chakwal, Murree, and Jhelum – for Rs3.7 billion.

According to the officials, the government asked the Rawalpindi administration to complete these 204 schemes in Rawalpindi by Jan 2025. A senior official told Dawn that most schemes related to the construction of streets, roads, drains, boundary walls, water supply, and street lights.

He said 19 schemes would focus on the improvement of streets and roads in the cantonment areas whereas seven new tube wells would be installed in Bangash Colony, Fauji Colony, Hazara Colony, and Dhoke Ratta. He said 393 schemes for the division had been approved by the provincial government which included 204 schemes for Rawalpindi, 64 for Attock, 25 for Murree, 67 for Chakwal, and 19 schemes for Jhelum.

393 schemes okayed for division at cost of Rs3.7 billion

The official said the tendering process had started and work on these schemes would start as soon as the funds were transferred by the finance division, hopefully by the end of next week.

On the other hand, a PML-N stalwart claimed that the 200 schemes announced by the government were not enough, as the residents of the garrison city expected more development schemes from the PML-N government in light of its previous tenures.

He said that the provincial government was busy with new projects which would not benefit the citizens and cited the ‘Apni Chatt Apna Ghar’ housing finance scheme, electronic motorbikes, and others to make his point. He said unruly traffic, poor transport infrastructure, and the lack of potable water were among the primary issues faced by the residents of Rawalpindi.

He claimed it was difficult to convey the ground realities to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz as only a few leaders had her ear. He said that during the PML-N government in 2013-18, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif visited markets and inspected districts to keep himself abreast of ground realities but now the situation has changed.

On the other hand, a Punjab finance department official said the provincial government was facing a financial crisis as it had to complete the mega projects launched over the past two years by the caretaker government and the previous governments of the PML-N and the PTI in the province.

He said that the cost of the Rawalpindi Ring Road had significantly escalated, while the work on Daducha Dam and Chahan Dam was also in progress. Apart from this, he said more than Rs4 billion were spent on the renovation of Holy Family Hospital. Besides Rawalpindi, the government has to spend money on other divisions of the province as well, he added.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2024