RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government has released Rs4.72 billion for at least 205 development schemes to be executed in 15 out of 19 national and provincial constituencies of Rawalpindi district by March-end.

The provincial government has released Rs295 million for each constituency, barring the four constituencies won by the opposition, and asked the district administration to start work by the end of December and finish it by the end of March.

Interestingly, Rs295 million each was allocated for development schemes for the winner and runner-up candidates in NA-52 Gujar Khan.

PPP’s Raja Pervez Ashraf defeated PML-N’s Raja Javed Ikhlas in this constituency.

A senior official of the district administration told Dawn that the Punjab government sought development schemes from PML-N and PPP lawmakers from the district to the tune of Rs1 billion for each constituency but it asked them to prioritise schemes under Rs295 million in the first phase.

Four constituencies won by opposition in Rawalpindi district ignored

He said that for the last five months, PML-N and PPP lawmakers pressed the Punjab government for development works in their constituencies and finally, the government released the funds for the first phase of the development schemes.

The Punjab government secured the funds under the block allocation and the local MPAs and MNAs will get money after convincing the government about the welfare schemes.

He said that more funds would be allocated in March for the remaining schemes in the district.

There are total 13 seats of the Punjab Assembly in the district: the ruling PML-N won nine seats, the Sunni Ittehad Council won three seats, while one seat was won by Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen.

There are six seats of the National Assembly in the district and the PML-N won five seats and one seat was grabbed by the PPP.

The constituencies in which the PTI-backed SIC and the MWM won elections did not get any projects.

As per the plan, the Local government and Community Development Department will start Rs3.628 billion development works in the district, including 10 schemes worth Rs295 million in NA-52; 29 schemes worth Rs295 million in NA-53; nine schemes worth Rs295 million in NA-54; three schemes worth Rs45 million in NA-55; 10 schemes worth Rs135 million in NA-56; six schemes worth Rs295 million in NA-57; 10 schemes worth Rs295 in PP-07; six schemes worth Rs254 million in PP-09; four schemes worth Rs295 million in PP-10; five schemes worth Rs225 million in PP-11; eight schemes worth Rs295m in PP-12; four schemes worth Rs164 million in PP-14; seven schemes worth Rs117 million in PP-15; six schemes worth Rs235 million in PP-16; and two schemes worth Rs90 million in PP-17. For NA-52, the PML-N ticketholder got Rs295m for 23 development schemes.

In 15 constituencies, Rs490 million will be spent on water and sanitation works.

The Water and Sanitation Agency will execute eight schemes in NA-56 worth Rs160 million; two schemes worth Rs70 million in PP-11; one scheme worth Rs60 million in PP-16; and 12 schemes worth Rs200 million in PP-17.

The Public Health and Engineering (PHE) Department will launch 37 uplift schemes worth Rs581 million, including Rs250 million for 19 schemes in NA-55. Moreover, two schemes worth Rs40.2 million in PP-09; 10 schemes worth Rs128.5 million in PP-14; and six projects worth Rs163 million in PP-16 will be executed by the PHE. The Parks and Horticulture Authority will launch one scheme worth Rs5 million in PP-17 while the Communication and Works Department will start two schemes worth Rs15 million in PP-15.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2024