There’s no tomorrow

Political differences among the ruling party and opposition leaders have had a significant impact on the ongoing development projects. For example, the inauguration of a mother and child care hospital has been suspended for an indefinite period. The Rawalpindi bypass, whose plan and cost estimation were revised multiple times, is now down in the doldrums. The latest estimation is less than 10 percent of the cost of the Lahore Orange train in Lahore, and the bypass will be used by the population of almost 10 crore people living on or beside GT Road. Moreover, it will improve the strategic link of GT Road with the north (up to China and Afghanistan) and the south-west (Sargodha, Faisalabad, Quetta and Gwadar).

The Islamabad Expressway is currently the only road which links GT Road to the north and south-west passing through streets of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, getting chocked all times. Although the former PM approved an amount of Rs15 billion for rebuilding the road, the amount was transferred to a new project of the Rawalpindi-Kahuta bypass by the successor PM to secure votes in his constituency. The current situation is strange and confusing as projects are undertaken on the basis of personal priorities. Little attention is paid to areas where these projects are needed the most. The chief justice of Pakistan needs to look into this matter and ask the relevant department to provide justifications for the delay.

Muhammad Umar Farooq

Islamabad