Rawalpindi Division

Rawalpindi : ReNews Pakistan The Punjab government has launched formal proceedings to review and potentially revoke the No Objection Certificates (NOCs) issued for proposed service areas along the Rawalpindi Ring Road after concerns surfaced that the approvals were granted without prior authorization from the provincial government. According to official sources, the disputed NOCs were allegedly issued by former officials of the Rawalpindi district administration in an effort to alter the design of the multibillion-rupee infrastructure project without securing mandatory government approval. The provincial government has directed authorities to compile the complete record related to the approvals for a comprehensive legal, administrative, and financial review. As part of the inquiry, officials are examining all relevant documentation, including meeting minutes, departmental correspondence, and the legal framework under which the approvals were issued. The investigation will determine whether established procedures, regulatory requirements, and administrative protocols were fully observed before the NOCs were granted. Authorities are also assessing the potential financial implications of the disputed approvals, including any additional costs or design changes that could affect the project's overall budget and implementation schedule. If procedural irregularities or violations are confirmed, disciplinary action may be taken against those found responsible. The review comes at a time when the Rawalpindi Ring Road project continues to experience delays due to a combination of technical and administrative challenges. Construction remains incomplete at several locations, while fencing, utility relocation, and other engineering works are still underway, preventing the project's planned inauguration. Several government agencies, including the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), the National Highway Authority (NHA), the Irrigation Department, and the district administration, are coordinating efforts to address the remaining obstacles and accelerate project completion. Following the completion of the review, the Punjab government will decide whether the disputed service area NOCs should remain valid or be cancelled. Officials involved in the project maintain that all outstanding issues will be resolved in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements to ensure transparency, safeguard public resources, and facilitate the timely completion of one of Punjab's most significant transport infrastructure projects.

Rawalpindi: [ReNews Pakistan] The Rawalpindi district administration has initiated plans to develop new parking plazas in some of the city's busiest commercial areas, aiming to reduce chronic traffic congestion and improve parking facilities for residents, shoppers and businesses. The proposed parking facilities are planned for Raja Bazaar, Commercial Market and the Jinnah Park area, where increasing commercial activity and rising vehicle numbers have created persistent parking shortages and traffic bottlenecks. The decision was taken during a meeting of the District Development Committee, chaired by Deputy Commissioner Capt. (R) Nadeem Nasir, which reviewed the progress of ongoing development schemes and discussed new public infrastructure initiatives across the district. During the meeting, the deputy commissioner directed assistant commissioners to identify suitable government land for the proposed parking plazas and submit detailed feasibility reports to support future implementation. In addition to the parking initiative, the district administration instructed officials to identify land for a Sahulat Bazaar and a public park in Taxila and Wah, with the objective of expanding public amenities in the growing urban centres. The meeting also reviewed the progress of major healthcare projects. The deputy commissioner sought an immediate progress report on the Rawalpindi Mother and Child Hospital and ordered the relevant departments to resolve the water supply issues at the Rawat Tehsil Headquarters Hospital. To improve access to safe drinking water, the Punjab Saaf Pani Authority was directed to conduct mapping and geo tagging of all functional and non functional water filtration plants across the district. Officials were further instructed to prepare reports on the condition of urban and rural sports grounds and explore opening school and college playgrounds for public use after school hours. Assistant commissioners were also directed to identify land for at least one modern sports ground in every rural union council. The Tourism Department was asked to submit a comprehensive report on the proposed Mahota Dam tourism project, while the concerned authorities were directed to prepare cost estimates for the rehabilitation of Chakri Road. The committee also reviewed civic infrastructure challenges and instructed departments to develop a permanent solution to the sewerage issues at Biscuit Factory Chowk. Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi Waste Management Company and the District Council were directed to improve sanitation and waste management services in Union Councils 76 to 79 and continue the beautification of Rehmatabad Graveyard Road. The deputy commissioner also ordered immediate action to address issues identified at Wah General Hospital and called for a comprehensive plan to improve educational standards, teacher training and transport facilities for special education schools across the district. Concluding the meeting, Capt. (R) Nadeem Nasir reaffirmed the district administration's commitment to completing development projects on schedule and improving public infrastructure and municipal services throughout Rawalpindi.

Rawalpindi : ReNews Pakistan The National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) has completed the preliminary feasibility study for the proposed Rawalpindi Ring Road Phase II, which will connect Thalian Interchange with Hakla Interchange as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) route development. According to official sources, NESPAK has prepared three alignment options for the project and will submit them, along with its technical recommendations, to the Punjab Cabinet for final approval. The feasibility study identifies the expansion of the existing M-2 Motorway as the most practical, economical and technically feasible solution. Under this proposal, the current three lanes on each side of the motorway would be widened to five lanes in each direction along a 15.3 kilometre stretch. The project is estimated to cost approximately Rs9 billion. The second option proposes constructing a new 19.5 kilometre highway on the eastern side of the motorway at an estimated cost of Rs18 billion. The third option envisages a 26.5 kilometre western corridor, with an estimated cost of Rs24 billion, making it the longest and most expensive alternative under consideration. According to the feasibility report, widening the existing motorway could reduce overall construction costs by 50 to 60 percent compared with the two new corridor options. The study highlights that the availability of existing infrastructure, significantly lower land acquisition requirements and a shorter construction timeline make the motorway expansion the preferred option. The report also outlines several engineering and operational challenges, including traffic management during construction, right-of-way constraints and interchange improvements. However, NESPAK concludes that these challenges are manageable and are outweighed by the financial and operational advantages of upgrading the existing motorway. In contrast, the western alignment has been assessed as the least feasible option because it would require extensive land acquisition and substantially higher investment, while offering limited additional benefits compared with the recommended motorway expansion. The Punjab Cabinet is expected to review the three proposals before taking a final decision on the project's alignment and implementation strategy.