RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has gotten possession of the Pirwadhai General Bus Stand and the Municipal Library from the local administration.

The bus stand is the second largest in Punjab and was constructed in 1976 by the then government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto government.

Spreading over 207 kanals, it has 36 bus bays, two filling stations, 800 shops, four hotels, one canteen, two banks, a police check post and a post office.

More than 1,000 buses run from the stand to various parts of the country every day.

It was the main source of income of the defunct City District Government Rawalpindi (CDGR) and after the setting up of the local government system the management of the bus stand came under the control of the RMC.

The Municipal Library is the only public library in the city areas. The library was established in 1873 during the British rule. Initially, the library started with 1,000 books and 25 members but now it has over 47,000 books.

When contacted, Municipal Officer Finance Shahzad Gondal admitted that the general bus stand and the library had been handed over to the RMC and the latter would be managing them from Monday.

“The RMC expects Rs8.851 million from the rent of shops, hotels, petrol filling stations, parking fee. The amount would be spent on the development of the general bus stand,” he said.

He said a plan would be made to improve the services to facilitate the passengers at the general bus stand.

He said work was being started to improve the condition of the library.

A library incharge would be appointed after consultations with the mayor. The elected house of the RMC would define rules for the appointment of the library management, he added.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2017