Punjab Province

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.

Murree | ReNews Pakistan
A special meeting chaired by Pakistan Muslim League-N President Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif in Murree reviewed progress on various projects under the Murree Development Plan, with a particular focus on water supply, roads, tourism, environmental protection and urban facilities.
Maryam Aurangzeb, Chairperson of the Steering Committee for the Murree Development Programme, briefed the meeting on the progress of ongoing development projects in Murree.
The meeting was informed that work on major water supply projects was being accelerated on the instructions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. Completion of four major water supply schemes has increased Murree’s available water supply by 700,000 gallons per day.
Following completion of the Dunga Gali Water Supply Project, the area’s water supply has increased from 50,000 gallons to 350,000 gallons per day. Water supply projects in Dhar Jawa, Massot and Khani Gatt have also been completed.
The meeting was informed that the bulk water supply mega project from the River Jhelum to Murree has been targeted for completion by December 2028. The project will include seven pumping stations, a 29.6-kilometre pipeline and a water treatment plant. More than 425,000 people in Murree and Kotli Sattian are expected to benefit from the project. Meanwhile, arrangements have been made to continue supplying water to 96,000 households in Murree through bowsers and water tankers.
The meeting also reviewed the construction, expansion and rehabilitation of the Rawalpindi-Murree-Kashmir (RMK) Road, with October 31 set as the deadline for completion of the ongoing works. Officials said a comprehensive programme for the road’s construction, expansion and rehabilitation was being undertaken for the first time in nearly 40 years since 1996. Special measures are also being implemented to prevent landslides, along with the installation of streetlights, road furniture, roadside shoulders and footpaths paved with concrete tiles.
A plan was also presented to establish Murree’s first Hill View Park on Mall Road as part of efforts to enhance the area’s appearance and make it more tourist-friendly. Following the removal of encroachments, Murree’s first amphitheatre will be constructed on Mall Road with a seating capacity of 600 people. Walkable areas, a family park, food and merchandise stalls, six gazebos and a dedicated children’s play area will also be developed around the amphitheatre.
The meeting was also briefed on the Bansra Gali Wildlife Park project, where an elevated bridge of its kind is being constructed for tourists in Punjab. The bridge will pass through a nature trail, jungle journey, animal kingdom and lion enclosure. Visitors will also be able to access the tiger and leopard houses, Pine Lodge and Wildlife Trade Park. The park will further include an amphitheatre, souvenir shop, food court, eco-lodge and biodiversity park.
The meeting also decided in principle to formulate special rules and regulations for shops, hotels and cafés operating along Mall Road. It was also decided to preserve and restore the historic GPO and church buildings in their original condition. Plans were approved to remove unsightly overhead electricity wires and install underground cabling at Jhika Gali, the GPO, Government House and Kashmir Point. The proposal to replace metal shutters at shops along Mall Road and other prominent roads with traditional wooden doors was also agreed upon in principle.
The meeting reviewed a proposal to restrict the entry and movement of extremely old and dilapidated vehicles in Murree. A report prepared by Japanese geological experts on the protection of the Jhika Gali site was also presented. According to the report, 296 piles will be installed to protect and stabilise the project site, of which 200 have already been completed.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif also directed the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) to provide a dedicated electricity line to ensure an uninterrupted power supply to Sambli Hospital.

Rawalpindi | ReNews Pakistan
Rawalpindi Commissioner Salman Ghani has directed the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) to intensify action against illegal housing schemes, unauthorized development and land-use violations across the authority’s jurisdiction, as part of efforts to strengthen oversight of the city’s rapidly expanding property and urban development sector.
The directives were issued during a meeting at the RDA where officials reviewed land-use matters, housing schemes, development activities and ongoing enforcement operations. The meeting focused on improving regulatory monitoring and ensuring that residential and commercial development proceeds in accordance with approved planning and land-use regulations.
Commissioner Ghani instructed RDA officials to strengthen the monitoring of housing schemes and unauthorized development while ensuring that enforcement mechanisms remain effective and transparent. He particularly emphasized the use of geo-tagging, verified land records and modern technology to improve field monitoring and identify violations at an early stage.
He also ordered regular reviews of both approved and unapproved housing schemes to prevent unauthorized development, construction and marketing activities. The exercise is intended to help authorities maintain updated information about the legal status and development activities of housing schemes operating within the RDA’s jurisdiction.
The commissioner stressed that records relating to land use, housing schemes and development projects must remain accurate, updated and properly verified. Officials were directed to take timely action whenever discrepancies, planning violations or unauthorized activities are detected.
The meeting also reviewed the need for stronger documentation of enforcement operations. Ghani directed relevant departments to maintain proper records of actions taken against violations and ensure systematic follow-up so that identified breaches do not remain unresolved.
Greater coordination among RDA departments was also ordered, particularly in matters involving planning approvals, land-use records, site inspections, housing scheme status and enforcement actions. Improved information-sharing, according to the directives, would help authorities respond more efficiently to violations and strengthen regulatory control over urban development.
The commissioner said accurate land and planning records, regular field inspections, geo-tagging and modern technological tools could significantly improve the RDA’s ability to monitor development activities and respond promptly to unauthorized construction and other violations.
The renewed enforcement drive comes as Rawalpindi’s housing and real-estate sector continues to expand, increasing the importance of effective planning oversight, verified land records and compliance with approved development frameworks.