CHAKWAL: With the Punjab government all set to revamp major bazaars across the province, the district administrations of Chakwal and Talagang have sought Rs300 million and Rs110 million, respectively, for revamping the main bazaars in their cities.

On the other hand, Rs198 million has been sanctioned for the reconstruction of the assistant commissioners’ residences in Chakwal and Choa Saidan Shah and assistant commissioner’s office in Kallar Kahar, two officials confirmed to Dawn.

Under the proposed plan submitted to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Rs300 million is required for the revamping of Chakwal’s historic Chappar Bazaar while Rs110 million is needed to rehabilitate the main bazaar in Talagang.

“Under the proposed plan, power lines supplying electricity to Chappar Bazaar will be shifted underground, an eye-catching façade of the markets sprawling on both sides of the bazaar would be built, sewage drains constructed and tough tiles installed in the bazaar,” an official said.

Rs198m sanctioned for construction of ACs’ residences, office

The official further added that the main bazaar in Talagang would be renovated on the same pattern.

“As Chappar Bazaar is larger than the bazaar in Talagang, a larger amount is required for its remodelling,” the official said.

Talking to Dawn, Additional Deputy Commissioner Bilal bin Abdul Hafeez revealed that the Govt Middle School situated on the right corner of Chappar Bazaar’s entrance would be demolished and a parking plaza built in its place.

“The school building has been declared dangerous. Besides, it is situated on the main road with Chappar Bazaar on its left therefore we would shift it near Committee Bagh where a public school is already functioning,” Mr Abdul Hafeez said.

Another official told Dawn that a couple of months ago Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, while chairing a high-level meeting, approved the revamping of major bazaars in all districts and each deputy commissioner was directed to submit a proposal in this regard.

“The districts have been put in two categories. Districts which earn their own revenue and can revamp their bazaars fall in the first category while those which do not have enough resources to revamp their bazaars have been placed in the second category,” the official said, adding that 56pc of the districts would revamp bazaars on their own while the rest would get aid from the Punjab government.

“As Chakwal and Talagang do not have enough revenue, we are waiting for the approval of the desired funds by the Punjab government to rehabilitate the bazaars. We are sure that funds would be sanctioned within the next few days,” the official said.

Construction of AC’s houses, office

An amount of Rs198 million has been sanctioned by the Board of Revenue for the construction of assistant commissioners’ houses in Chakwal and Talagang as well as office of the assistant commissioner in Kallar Kahar.

The building of the historic AC House in Chakwal would be razed and reconstructed at the cost of Rs56 million.

Controversy had hit the AC House in August 2023 when AC Chakwal was shifted to the District Complex and the then commissioner Rawalpindi Division, Liaquat Ali Chattha, along with the former deputy commissioner Chakwal Quratul Ain Malik turned the AC House into a gymkhana.

The move invited the ire of the civil society which suggested that a parking plaza should be built on such a precious public land measuring eight kanals and located in the heart of the city.

Industrialists and traders who had vowed to finance the construction of the gymkhana backtracked following public’s opposition.

Similarly Rs42 million and Rs100 million would be spent on the construction of AC House in Choa Saidan Shah and AC Office in Kallar Kahar, respectively.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2025