Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has set October 15, 2026, as the final deadline for completion of the Chief Minister Punjab’s Local Roads Program, directing field formations of the Communications and Works (C&W) Department to accelerate work and complete all remaining road schemes within the prescribed timelines.
Punjab C&W Minister Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bharth issued the directives while chairing a high level meeting to review progress on the provincial road development programme. C&W Secretary Raja Jahangir Anwar, Special Secretary, Additional Secretaries and Chief Engineers attended the meeting, while Superintending Engineers and Executive Engineers participated through video link.
Officials briefed the minister on the implementation status of ongoing schemes and reported that the Highways Department remains on track to complete the Sohne Pind Sohniyan Rahwan Program during October.
The minister directed field teams to meet interim completion targets of September 30 and October 5 for additional road projects, before achieving the overall October 15 deadline for the Local Roads Program.
Bharth ordered officials to ensure that lane markings, finishing works and other essential road components are completed alongside construction, rather than being left pending after the main civil works. He also directed all Chief Engineers to personally visit project sites and inspect both completed and ongoing schemes.
The minister further tasked the Road Asset Management team with initiating systematic quality checks and ordered a comprehensive assessment of approximately 1,000 kilometres of roads being developed or improved under the programme.
The inspection drive is intended to assess the quality and condition of completed roads and identify deficiencies requiring corrective measures, according to the directions issued during the meeting.
Meanwhile, the Punjab government has also announced Phase II of the Local Roads Program, signalling an expansion of the provincial road development initiative beyond the projects currently under execution.
Bharth said the provincial government was working to establish a wider road network across Punjab under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, adding that improved road infrastructure was intended to strengthen connectivity and facilitate citizens across the province.
With the October 15 deadline approaching, the C&W Department has been directed to maintain close field-level monitoring, accelerate unfinished works and ensure that roads handed over for public use meet the required construction and finishing standards.

Rawalpindi : ReNews Pakistan
Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi has said the government is expanding modern parks and recreational facilities in Rawalpindi to promote healthier lifestyles and provide residents with safer public spaces.
He made the remarks while addressing the inaugural ceremonies of Allama Iqbal Park and Milad Park in Rawalpindi. MNA Tahira Aurangzeb, Punjab Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Services Ziaullah Shah, MPA Asma Naz Abbasi and a large number of PML-N workers attended the ceremonies.
Abbasi said providing safe and accessible recreational facilities, particularly for women and children, was among the government’s priorities. He said surveillance cameras and other security arrangements had been installed at the newly inaugurated parks to improve visitor safety.
The minister said parks, sports facilities and opportunities for healthy outdoor activities were important for developing a healthier and more active society. He added that efforts were also being made to ensure the provision of basic civic facilities in every constituency and union council of Rawalpindi.
Turning to the city’s infrastructure, Abbasi said work was continuing to address problems related to gas, water, electricity and sewerage. He said old pipelines, some of which were 40 to 50 years old, were being replaced, while several schemes for the construction and rehabilitation of roads and streets were also under way.
The minister further said several public welfare and development projects had been completed in Rawalpindi, while work on other schemes was continuing. He said available resources were being utilised to improve transportation, public spaces and essential municipal services across the city.
Abbasi also highlighted the importance of continued investment in recreational infrastructure alongside basic civic development, saying the newly established parks would provide residents with improved opportunities for leisure, sports and family activities.
He also described Pakistan as a peaceful and secure country and credited the Pakistan Army with maintaining national security.
The inauguration of the two parks comes as authorities continue to expand recreational infrastructure in Rawalpindi, with greater emphasis on public access, family-oriented facilities and security arrangements.

Rawalpindi : ReNews Pakistan
The Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has approved the rehabilitation of nine major roads across the city under a Rs 1.6 billion development package, assigning execution to the Communication and Works Department due to the civic body’s limited capacity to undertake the projects itself.
Under the arrangement, the RMC will provide the required funds, while the Communication and Works Department will execute the rehabilitation works within the corporation’s jurisdiction.
The Divisional Development Working Party (DDWP) has directed the department to commence work at the earliest and complete all nine projects by December 31, 2026.
The rehabilitation package includes Khyaban e Sir Syed Road, Bokra Road, 5th Road, Rawal Road from Ali Nawaz Chowk to Murree Road, Chandani Chowk Commercial Market Road, Railway Workshop Road, China Market-Gordon College Road, Satellite Town 4th B Road and Band Khana Road.
The road schemes range from approximately 0.8 to 2.4 kilometres in length. Individual project costs are estimated between around Rs115 million and Rs248 million, depending on the scope and length of each road.
A senior district administration official said the divisional administration had assigned the projects to the Communication and Works Department to accelerate the rehabilitation of important road links and improve the condition of major routes across Rawalpindi.
The move is expected to support road connectivity and improve traffic movement on several heavily used corridors of the garrison city, particularly routes connecting commercial areas, residential neighbourhoods and major public facilities.
Meanwhile, three additional road projects proposed by the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) and the District Council have also been assigned to the Communication and Works Department.
These schemes include the reconstruction of Chaudhry Bostan Khan Road from Chaklala Scheme-III to the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench, Chakri Road, and the road leading towards Falcon Chowk along the Islamabad Expressway.
According to the district administration official, the three additional projects have been submitted to the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) for approval.
Once the schemes receive the required approval, the Communication and Works Department will undertake their execution, while the respective civic bodies will provide the funds.
The road rehabilitation programme forms part of efforts to upgrade Rawalpindi’s urban road infrastructure and address the deteriorating condition of key routes through coordinated implementation by the city’s development and municipal authorities.