RAWALPINDI: After he became prime minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s constituency of NA-50 (Rawalpindi-I) has become a priority for the district and divisional administration in the allocation of development schemes.

Before this, the district and divisional administration focused more on development works in NA-52, the constituency of former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

Acting Commissioner Talat Mehmood Gondal called a special meeting on Saturday to review progress on ongoing development works in Murree and directed that they be completed by Nov 30.

PM Abbasi’s coordinator, Hafiz Usman, was also briefed by the district and divisional administration about progress on uplift schemes, even though he is not an elected representative from Murree.

“The prime minister wanted to inaugurate major projects over the next few months, especially roads in Lower Topa and Kohala; the tehsil headquarters (THQ) hospital; and the land records centre, so the administration was asked to speed up the pace of work,” a senior administration official told Dawn.

He said that resolving the water problem in Murree was also a priority for the prime minister, adding that he wanted the issue addressed during his tenure. The official said inauguration plaques for projects to be inaugurated by the prime minister have already been prepared.

PM Abbasi wants road, healthcare projects in NA-50 completed during his tenure

The official explained that in Murree, development schemes from the last fiscal year had been pending since the funds had lapsed on June 30 due to non-utilisation, and work began after the Punjab government released the funds.

He claimed that during the meeting on Saturday, officials from provincial departments said that pending funds for education and roads related projects had been released.

However, the Rs250 million for the THQ hospital, whose completion date is Sept 15, was still pending. The official said Hafiz Usman then asked the building department to complete their homework, saying that the funds would be released soon.

The meeting was also told that the budget for the development of schools and healthcare facilities had not been released, which would create problems. Ideally, these projects should be completed before the start of winter.

When contacted, Deputy Director Planning Saima Ghafoor told Dawn Saturday’s meeting was a routine huddle, meant to review progress on development works, adding that the commissioner had ordered that all hurdles should be removed and work started as soon as possible.

A press release issued by the Punjab Information Directorate said acting Commissioner Talat Mehmood Gondal reviewed progress on development works in NA-50 along with the prime minister’s coordinator, Hafiz Usman.

The press release quotes Mr Usman as saying that the reconstruction of 24 dangerous school buildings had been completed, and the one building remaining would be reconstructed by Oct 31.

He is reported as having directed the district and provincial officers to complete the projects for the construction of roads, streets and schools by Nov 31 or otherwise, construction work will have to be stopped due to snowfall.

Mr Gondal is quoted as saying that development work should be completed and that no compromises should be made regarding the quality of work and material. He said all hurdles should be removed and work should be completed in the stipulated time.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2017