BAHAWALPUR: The Punjab government has excluded 38 projects amounting to over Rs3.50 billion from the 2024-25 annual development programme (ADP) for south Punjab.

Dawn has learnt that work on these projects, mostly sanctioned during the PTI’s rule, was ongoing, with 60 to 70 per cent of the work already completed. With the defunding of these projects in the current ADP, it is feared that their cost would increase and the general public would suffer. The 70 per cent of work already done on these projects would be wasted.

The affected projects include the additional carriageway from Bahawalpur to Jhangra interchange linking the city to the Multan-Sukkur Motorway, the dual carriageway from Railway Chowk to the underpass, N-5 Ahmedpur East to the old bypass, a double road from Uch Sharif to Ahmedpur East, a road from Norpur to Head Rajkan, and others.

Officials concerned say that efforts were being made to contact the government for the restoration of their funds, which were expected to be reinstated in the current year’s ADP.

However, official sources claimed that the government had released Rs4 billion for the projects included in the ADP 2024-25 for the police department in Bahawalpur. These projects pertain to the construction of police stations, a Dolphin Squad building, a police training centre, and others.

JAILED: A court in Kahrore Pucca in Lodhran district handed down nine-year sentence and a Rs80,000 fine to drug trafficker Muhammad Belal.

According to the prosecution, Belal was arrested on Dec 28, 2023, and over one kilogramme of charas was recovered from him. Additional District and Sessions Judge Umar Farooq Awan announced a further sentence of six months in case of the default of his payment of the fine.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2024