WHILE travelling on M-5 lately, being a native of the erstwhile princely state of Bahawalpur, the second biggest in the subcontinent, which acceded to Pakistan in October 1947, my heart really bled when I came to know that the National Highway Authority (NHA) in 2014 decided to omit the city from M-5.

This was done to a state, which after the independence of Pakistan under Nawab Sir Sadiq Mohammad Khan V, gave millions to boost the economy of Pakistan. Big-hearted contributions comprised salaries of all government departments for one month from the treasury of the state. Military outfits with armament for Pakistan Army, and Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Phantom gifted to Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah on his oath-taking as the country’s first governor-general, were noteworthy contributions.

I urge the government to take notice of the folly and an injustice made to the people of Bahawalpur by creating two new interchanges in the region so that the prejudice can be taken care of.

S.M. Ali
Bahawalpur

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2022