RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government has directed the district administration of Rawalpindi to complete all the development works by next month.

A senior official of the district administration told Dawn that the provincial government wanted to inaugurate all the projects before the general elections and the formation of the caretaker government.

Special focus is being given to the completion of projects in NA-51, the constituency of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, and NA-52 of former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, he added. However, he said, in Murree many development works would be completed by the end of April as in the winter it would be difficult to continue the construction activities there.

He said the local PML-N leaders wanted to complete the schemes in mid-January but due to the slow release of funds by the government work on the schemes was delayed.

Special focus is on completion of projects in constituencies of prime minister and ex-interior minister, says official

Meanwhile, the Divisional Development Working Party at a meeting held at the commissioner office reviewed the progress of work on the schemes, especially in Rawalpindi and Murree.

Commissioner Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry chaired the meeting which was attended by Deputy Commissioner Talat Mehmood Gondal, Director Finance and Planning Noureen Bashir, Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Director General retired Captain Anwar, Executive Engineer Highways Syed Arshad Raza and other officials.

The meeting was informed about the progress on the establishment of a public park in NA-52. Electricity and water connections were the main problem behind the delay in completion of the project.

The commissioner directed the departments concerned to expedite the pace of work on all the ongoing schemes and complete them within the specified time.

Briefing the meeting, the deputy commissioner said the district administration was providing all-out support to complete the schemes on time.

The director finance and planning said Rs62.499 million had been allocated for the reconstruction and widening of the road from Nehar Stop Mushahadi to Garri Chowk in Taxila (NA-53). Likewise, Rs77.919m have been allocated for the recarpetting/widening of the road from Gola Mor to Bissa in Kotli Sattiyan. Once completed, these roads will provide an easy mobility to the local residents, she added.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2018