RAWALPINDI:
Two months into the fiscal year 2025-26, not a single rupee of development funds has been released to any development agency in Rawalpindi due to the severe financial and economic crisis.
Nor have any agencies been asked to submit development projects or schemes despite earlier announcements.
According to sources, the development has raised fears that ten mega projects, pending for the last 15 to 20 years, may face another year of delay.
For the first time in Punjab’s history, no development schemes were sought from Rawalpindi agencies during budget preparation, and even those agencies that had prepared proposals were not asked to submit them.
As a result, projects of Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), District Council, Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation, Parks and Horticulture Authority, Forests, Social Welfare, Livestock and Poultry Research have been shelved.
Stalled projects include the Leh Expressway, sewage water treatment plant and tunneling, Ghazi Barotha Water Project, Chahan Dam Water Scheme, Kachehri Chowk double underpass, fencing around Leh Nullah to stop dumping of garbage and debris, Dadocha Dam, three commercial plazas including expansion of Fawara Chowk Commercial Plaza, and rainwater storage and recycling schemes. These projects remain inactive until December 31, 2025, with risks of further suspension until June 30, 2026, due to ongoing floods in Punjab.
Currently, development agencies are only receiving funds for salaries and daily expenditures. None, including the Municipal Corporation, District Council, RDA, or WASA, has been able to launch mega projects. Proposals submitted again to the Punjab government have also not been considered.
District Development Committee Convener MNA Engineer Qamarul Islam, however, claimed that record development projects will be initiated this year, including completion of Adiala Road and Mall Road underpasses, new gas pipelines, and road expansions.
He said priority is being given to projects benefiting the public at large.
