Rawalpindi Division

Rawalpindi | ReNews Pakistan The cost of the Rawalpindi Ring Road project has surged to more than Rs 53 billion from an initial estimate of Rs 22.82 billion, as repeated delays and revisions have left the major infrastructure scheme incomplete around five years after its launch. The 38.3 kilometre, six-lane Ring Road project was awarded in March 2022 with the objective of improving traffic flow, strengthening regional connectivity and easing pressure on Rawalpindi’s existing road network. However, delays in the project’s execution and subsequent revisions have pushed its cost up by around Rs 30 billion, taking the overall estimated expenditure beyond Rs 53 billion. The Punjab government has announced several deadlines for completion of the project over the years, while preparations for its inauguration were reportedly made on two occasions. Despite these efforts, the road has yet to become fully operational. Sources in the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) said approximately 90 percent of construction work has now been completed and work on the remaining portions is progressing rapidly. The prolonged delay and sharp escalation in cost have raised concerns over the financial burden on the public exchequer, particularly given the scale and strategic importance of the project. The Ring Road is regarded as one of the largest infrastructure projects undertaken in Rawalpindi. Alongside construction delays and rising costs, the project has also faced scrutiny over alleged alterations to its original design. An inquiry into the alleged design changes was launched in July, with Additional Chief Secretary Ahmed Raza Sarwar seeking the complete record of the project for examination. Issues relating to No Objection Certificates (NOCs), approved layouts, access roads and other regulatory clearances have also become the subject of legal disputes, with some matters reaching the courts. Questions surrounding alterations to the Ring Road’s original design first emerged in 2022 during the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf government’s tenure. The controversy subsequently led to the transfer of then Rawalpindi Commissioner Muhammad Mehmood, Deputy Commissioner Anwar-ul-Haq and several other officials. With most of the physical work now reported to have been completed, attention remains focused on the completion of the remaining construction, resolution of regulatory and legal issues and the final cost of a project whose estimated expenditure has more than doubled since its inception.

Rawalpindi : Owners of small residential properties in Rawalpindi are facing property tax demands running into hundreds of thousands of rupees, triggering disputes with tax authorities over what residents say is a longstanding exemption for houses measuring up to five marlas. Residents owning houses measuring between two and four marlas have reported receiving property tax bills ranging from Rs150,000 to Rs300,000. Some homeowners say enforcement action has also been initiated against properties where the demanded tax remains unpaid. The controversy comes against the backdrop of difficulties faced by the Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department in meeting property tax collection targets in Rawalpindi Division. According to the reported complaints, the division has experienced a substantial shortfall in property tax collections over the past two years, particularly involving larger commercial and residential properties, shopping malls, plazas and major housing societies. Residents allege that tax authorities have responded to the revenue shortfall by widening enforcement to include smaller residential properties, including houses that homeowners maintain had previously remained outside the property tax net. At the centre of the dispute is the treatment of privately owned residential properties measuring up to five marlas. Residents say the Punjab government granted an exemption from property tax to such houses around 25 years ago. They argue that owners of two-, three- and four-marla properties should therefore not suddenly face demands reaching hundreds of thousands of rupees. The issuance of the bills has raised questions among homeowners over whether the exemption remains applicable, whether the taxation framework has subsequently been amended and how the amounts appearing on individual bills have been calculated. Some residents have reported receiving demands of Rs150,000 to Rs200,000, while others claim bills have reached as high as Rs300,000. The unexpectedly large amounts have particularly alarmed households living in modest properties, with residents arguing that such tax liabilities place a disproportionate financial burden on lower- and middle-income families. The dispute has intensified following reports of enforcement measures against homeowners who have not paid the disputed amounts. Residents allege that some small houses have been sealed over non-payment and that tax recovery operations have led to confrontations between citizens and Excise Department personnel. There have also been allegations that authorities have pursued recovery through household assets in certain cases. These claims have contributed to growing resentment among affected residents and heightened tensions during enforcement operations. According to the report, property tax collection in Rawalpindi Division has remained substantially below target, with an estimated shortfall of around 50 per cent over the past two years. Residents contend that authorities should concentrate recovery efforts on major commercial properties, large houses, shopping centres, plazas and housing societies where significant tax liabilities may remain outstanding rather than placing additional pressure on owners of small homes. The controversy has prompted calls for the Punjab government and senior Excise Department officials to clarify the legal status of the exemption for smaller homes and explain the basis on which the latest property tax assessments have been issued. Affected residents have also called for the disputed bills to be reviewed and for clear guidance on the tax status of houses measuring up to five marlas. The Excise Department's detailed position on the residents' allegations and the specific legal basis for the reported tax demands was not included in the original report.

Rawalpindi | ReNews Pakistan Rawalpindi district is set to receive a major infrastructure development programme worth more than Rs 6.5229 billion, with 21 development schemes identified across the district and 18 schemes receiving official approval. The programme focuses largely on road rehabilitation, reconstruction, improvement and widening works in Rawalpindi city and surrounding areas. The projects are being taken up under the Punjab Development Programme and cover Rawalpindi as well as Taxila, Gujar Khan, Kallar Syedan and Kahuta. The approved schemes are aimed at improving road connectivity and upgrading infrastructure serving residential, commercial and other urban and rural areas across the district. The approved programme includes nine schemes under the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC), with a combined estimated cost of around Rs 1.6 billion. Another nine schemes fall under the District Council, with a combined cost of approximately Rs 4.8 billion. The road works will be executed by the Punjab Highway Department, while funding for the schemes will be provided by the RMC and District Council. The arrangement is expected to support the rehabilitation of key urban roads as well as roads connecting different parts of the district. Major routes identified for rehabilitation and improvement within Rawalpindi city include Khayaban e Sir Syed, Bokra Road, Fifth Road, Rawal Road, the road section between Chandni Chowk and Commercial Market, Railway Workshop Road and Gordon College Road. Additional road development schemes have been identified in Taxila, Gujar Khan, Kallar Syedan and Kahuta. These projects are intended to improve local connectivity and provide better road access for communities and businesses in areas outside the main city. The infrastructure programme also includes a review of water supply and sewerage schemes. The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Rawalpindi provided updates on ongoing projects and their implementation status during the district level review. From an urban development perspective, rehabilitation of major roads could improve connectivity between residential and commercial areas and help address deteriorated road infrastructure. The practical impact, however, will depend on timely execution, construction quality, traffic management and subsequent maintenance. The planned investment also has relevance for the wider property market because road access and availability of basic infrastructure are among the factors that influence the development potential of different locations. However, property conditions can vary significantly from one road, locality or project to another, and any assessment should be based on actual development and connectivity on the ground. With a combined estimated cost of more than Rs 6.5229 billion, the district programme represents a significant infrastructure investment covering both urban Rawalpindi and surrounding tehsils. The 18 approved schemes are expected to form the core of the road rehabilitation and improvement programme across the district.