SIALKOT: The dilapidated main roads of the district have been unable to catch the attention of the government that has not allocated even a single penny in the budget for their development.

The main Sialkot Airport Road, Sialkot-Head Marala Road, Daska-Pasrur Road, Sialkot-Pasrur Road, Sialkot-Sambrial-Wazirabad Road, Daska-Sambrial Road and Daska-Wazirabad Road were lying in a poor condition. It was expected that some funds would be allocated in the budget for repair and reconstruction of these roads, but the government seemed to have ignored them.

Former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and incumbent Chief Minister Usman Buzdar had announced early repair and reconstruction of the Sialkot-Head Marala, Daska-Pasrur and Sialkot-Pasrur roads.

Residents of Sialkot, Daska, Sambrial and Pasrur tehsils were suffering a great deal while travelling due to the dilapidated condition of these roads.

On the other hand, the management of Sialkot International Airport recently started repairing the main Airport Road by spending Rs10 million on self help. They claimed that the highways department halted the repair work, saying the airport management had not sought the mandatory No-Objection Certificate from it.

Local exporters said that they had established the airport on self-help basis and now they wanted to construct roads leading to it but the highways department would not allow them to do so.

Locals have urged Prime Minister Imran Khan, Governor Chaudhry Sarwar and Chief Minister Buzdar to take notice of this situation.

They also urged the government to release development funds for these roads.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2019