NAROWAL: The completion Rs70 million ‘Narowal Model Bazaar’ project has been delayed allegedly due to use of poor quality material as the tiles installed on the ground have started cracking even before the project’s completion.

The project was launched as part of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s initiative ‘Punjab Beautification Project’ under the supervision of the district administration. It was launched on the main road entering the city.

Under the project, 800-meter-long Model Bazaar was planned from Zafarwal Bypass to the main gate of Government Girls Graduate College, Narowal.

The District Development Committee (DDC) had formally approved the project funded under the Annual Development Fund 2025-26. The funding was provided by the Narowal Municipal Committee (MC).

The construction work of the project was started on October 10, 2025 and was to be completed by June 30, 2026. The MC administrator and the officers of the district administration have been continuously reviewing the construction work of the project.

However, by June 30, only 70 percent of the construction work could be completed, resulting in delay in its completion.

The city residents and traders have been facing problems in mobility as the main road entering the city was closed for all sorts of vehicular traffic on the direction of the MC administrator. The delay in the project has further prolonged their suffering.

The deputy commissioner says that the road has been closed for traffic as tiles are being installed on the floor of the Model Bazaar. According to shopkeepers doing business in the bazaar, the DC later allowed entry of motorcycles during the daytime.

However, they say that at many places in the bazaar, the tiles have cracked even before completion of the project. A footage of the broken tiles installed in the ‘Model Bazaar’ has also surfaced on social media.

Two locals, Asif and Salman Ahmed, say that after surfacing of the video on social media, the contractor has stared repairing and replacing the cracked tiles.

They demanded an inquiry into the alleged use of substandard material in the Rs70 million project.

The affected shopkeepers and commuters are worried over the delay in the completion of Model Bazaar project, demanding Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to take immediate notice of the situation.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2026