Rawalpindi Division

Rawalpindi: [ReNews Pakistan]
The Rawalpindi Ring Road project has entered its final stage, with officials confirming that around 90 percent of construction work on the major transport corridor has been completed.
The PKR 47 billion project, one of the most important infrastructure schemes for Rawalpindi and the surrounding region, is now moving close to completion as the June 30 deadline approaches. According to officials, major civil works on the 38.3 kilometre route have largely been finished, while work on the remaining components is continuing at a steady pace.
Authorities said asphalt laying has been completed on almost the entire corridor, while finishing work on the remaining sections is underway. The pending tasks include carpeting of nearly eight kilometres of road, completion of drainage systems, right of way finishing, installation of roadside safety features, and work on streetlights and lampposts.
Officials from the Rawalpindi Development Authority and the divisional administration said the physical progress of the project is substantial, although some finishing components may go slightly beyond the original timeline. They maintained that construction activity is now in its final phase and efforts are being made to complete the remaining work as soon as possible.
Deputy Project Director Ashfaq Sulheri said the remaining portion of the project is expected to be completed by the end of June. He added that installation of streetlights is also in progress and is likely to be finalised within a month.
However, officials clarified that completion of construction work will not automatically mean the immediate opening of the road for public traffic. A provincial government team will conduct a final inspection to assess whether the corridor is ready for inauguration and regular traffic movement.
The Rawalpindi Ring Road stretches from Baanth on GT Road to Thalian on the motorway. The project includes five interchanges at Baanth, Maira Mohra, Khasala, Kolian Parr and Thalian. It also includes multiple bridges, overpasses and supporting road infrastructure aimed at improving regional connectivity.
The Frontier Works Organisation is working as the main contractor, while the Rawalpindi Development Authority is the executing agency. The project also involved the acquisition of 8,992 kanals of land at a cost of PKR 6.7 billion.
Originally planned as a 68 kilometre route, the Ring Road project was later redesigned to 38.3 kilometres following a review process. Construction resumed after approvals from successive governments, making the current phase one of the most advanced stages of the long awaited project.
Officials believe the project will play a major role in reducing traffic pressure in Rawalpindi, improving access to the motorway, facilitating freight movement and supporting future development along the corridor. An industrial zone has also been planned along the route, although related development components will depend on further policy and administrative decisions.
Once completed and cleared for traffic, the Rawalpindi Ring Road is expected to become a key transport link for the twin cities and surrounding areas, offering an alternative route for heavy vehicles and improving connectivity between GT Road, the motorway network and emerging development zones.

Rawalpindi | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has revised its earlier plan to establish a Special Economic Zone along the Rawalpindi Ring Road and has decided to develop an industrial estate instead, after policy constraints linked to ongoing discussions with the International Monetary Fund made the SEZ model difficult to pursue at this stage.
According to reliable sources, the Punjab Industrial Estates Development and Management Company has approved the establishment of an industrial estate in the corridor adjacent to the Rawalpindi Ring Road project. The decision marks a major shift from the earlier proposal, under which a full-fledged Special Economic Zone was expected to be developed along the route to attract investment, promote manufacturing and generate employment.
Officials said the key reason behind the change was the fiscal limitation on tax exemptions and incentive packages normally offered under the SEZ framework. Under the current economic environment and discussions with international lenders, the government is not in a position to extend the broader concessions typically associated with Special Economic Zones.
As a result, the provincial authorities have opted for an industrial estate model, which can be implemented within the existing fiscal framework while still creating opportunities for industrial growth in the region.
Sources said that after the required legislative approval from the Punjab Assembly, the land acquisition process for the proposed industrial estate is expected to begin under the relevant legal provisions. The acquired land will later be offered to industrial investors at comparatively affordable rates in order to encourage manufacturing, commercial activity and private sector investment along the Ring Road corridor.
The proposed industrial estate is being viewed as an important economic component of the Rawalpindi Ring Road project, which is currently in its final stages of completion. The 38.6-kilometre Ring Road stretches from Banth Interchange on GT Road to Thalian Interchange on the motorway and is being completed at a revised cost of Rs51 billion.
Officials said the main carriageway and four of the five interchanges, including Banth, Chak Beli Khan, Adiala and Chakr, are nearing completion. The project is expected to be opened to traffic shortly after its formal inauguration.
However, construction work on the Thalian Interchange has faced delays. The interchange has been designed as a broad-based connectivity point, while the National Highway Authority is expected to complete the connecting link from Thalian to Sangjani at a later stage.
Business groups and industrial stakeholders had long demanded the establishment of an economic zone along both sides of the Rawalpindi Ring Road, arguing that the project could become a major investment corridor for the twin cities and surrounding areas. Earlier official engagements with the business community had also indicated support for such a plan.
Representatives of the business community said industrialists remain interested in investing in the area, provided land is made available at reasonable prices and supporting infrastructure, including roads, utilities and access routes, is developed effectively.
Officials maintained that although the SEZ model is not feasible for now due to IMF-linked policy restrictions, the industrial estate framework will still help unlock the economic potential of the Ring Road corridor and support industrial expansion in Rawalpindi and adjoining areas.

Rawalpindi: [ReNews Pakistan]
The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has decided to construct markets and commercial plazas on vacant plots and open spaces located within its housing schemes across Rawalpindi.
The decision was made during a meeting chaired by Commissioner Rawalpindi Abdul Aamer Khattak. Senior officials of the authority, including Additional Director General Masood Ahmad and Chief Engineer Anwar Baran, also attended the meeting.
During the briefing, the Estate Management Directorate presented details of a new asset management initiative aimed at identifying and utilizing vacant properties and open spaces in 13 housing schemes owned by the RDA.
Officials informed the meeting that the proposed initiative is designed to protect RDA land from illegal occupation, encroachments and land grabbing. They said commercial development on unused land would not only help secure public assets but also create sustainable sources of revenue for the authority.
According to officials, the plan focuses on better use of land already available within existing housing schemes. Markets, plazas and other commercial facilities may be developed at selected sites after completion of design, planning and approval processes.
Commissioner Abdul Aamer Khattak directed RDA officials to take all necessary steps to convert unused land into productive and income generating assets. He said public land should be managed in a structured and transparent manner so that it can support urban development and improve service delivery.
The commissioner also instructed the RDA to extend full cooperation to the Estate Management Directorate for the implementation of the initiative. He directed the relevant departments to prepare project designs for the proposed commercial developments on a priority basis.
Officials said the initiative is expected to help the RDA improve land management, prevent encroachments and strengthen its financial position through planned commercial activity within its housing schemes.