Latest news with #RawalpindiDevelopmentAuthority
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Key projects put on ice for another year
After a year-long campaign filled with lofty promises and bold slogans about launching ten state-of-the-art mega projects to address the city's core problems and essential needs, these much-publicised initiatives have now been postponed. Initially planned for the current fiscal year 2024-25 — already strained by a deepening economic crisis — the projects have been unceremoniously deferred to the upcoming fiscal year 2025-26. Over the past 12 months, the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), the District Council, District Administration, and Municipal Corporation have all failed entirely to initiate a single one of these projects. The projects have been pending for 17 years, and continuous delays have caused their estimated costs to surge by 100 to 300%, with a further 25% increase expected after budget approvals. Among these mega projects are the Lai Expressway, sewerage water tunnel and treatment plant, Ghazi Brotha water project, new large-diameter steel pipeline from Rawal Dam for additional water supply, Mother and Child Hospital, Ring Road, three large commercial parking plazas, underpasses from Mareer Chowk to Liaqat Bagh Chowk, Doodhcha Dam, and Chehan Dam water supply scheme. All these projects were initially prepared between 2008 and 2012 but were sidelined due to frequent changes in political governments. The 22-kilometer Lai Expressway was launched in 2008, with its foundation stone laid by then-President General Pervez Musharraf. However, despite 17 years having passed, it remains incomplete. Its initial estimated cost of 1.7 billion rupees has now escalated to 11 billion rupees. The Mother and Child Hospital is a 12-year-old project. Although the state-of-the-art building housing 13 operation theaters was completed, the project has been shut down for the last three years. Originally costing Rs900 million, the building was completed with an OPD inauguration planned for April 30, 2022. However, the government was dissolved on April 10, and the project stalled. Since then, windows, cabinets, doors, iron grills, and machinery have been stolen, and the expansive building has become a shelter for bats, dogs, cats, and snakes. While an additional Rs25m was allocated, work stoppage has caused losses to soar to approximately Rs150m. The sewerage water tunnel and treatment plant, originally estimated at Rs3b and now costing over Rs6b, has been stalled for four years. Similarly, the Chehan Dam water supply scheme has been repeatedly promised throughout the year, but as the fiscal year ended, it too was pushed into the new budget. Its cost has risen from Rs600m to 650m. The Rawal Dam new pipeline and commercial parking plaza projects have proved to be mere publicity stunts. The Ghazi Brotha water project, crucial to meeting the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad's water needs for 100 years, was also neglected again this year. Without Ghazi Brotha, the water crisis of the twin cities cannot be resolved. The project cost has inflated from Rs8.7b to Rs20b over 10 years. The Doodhcha Dam and Ring Road projects have become deadlocked due to extreme delays. Their completion deadlines have expired repeatedly, and now they too have been pushed into the new fiscal year. Because of the severe financial crisis, the District Municipal Corporation failed to launch any significant development scheme during the outgoing fiscal year 2024-25. However, District Development Committee convener and MNA Engineer Qamar-ul-Islam claims that record-breaking roads have been constructed this year, and with a record development budget in the new fiscal year, all mega projects will finally be initiated.
Express Tribune
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Panel postpones RDA scam hearing
The meeting of the special committee formed by the Punjab Chief Secretary to investigate the Rs1.94 billion corruption scandal in the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) failed to be held in Lahore on Thursday. The Director-General of RDA, along with a Deputy Director and an Assistant Director, who had travelled to Lahore for the meeting, were informed about rescheduling of the meeting on June 11. Meanwhile, NAB has intensified its probe into the financial scandal and conducted a raid at the residence of the late Deputy Director. The special committee, comprising DMG officers, had summoned RDA's Director-General Kinza Murtaza, Deputy Director Iftikhar Janjua, and Assistant Director Waqar Asghar Raja to Lahore for a review of records. However, upon their arrival, they were informed that one committee member was unavailable, leading to the postponement of the hearing until June 11. Surprisingly, despite the ongoing investigation, only one retired officer from the approximately dozen former Directors General and Directors of Administration and Finance of RDA, who served between 2016 and 2024/25, has been summoned. Some of these officers have retired, while others hold key positions in Punjab.
Express Tribune
25-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
RDA scam sparks NAB probe
An alleged embezzlement scandal involving Rs1.94 billion in the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has raised serious questions about negligence and misconduct by top officials over the past nine years. According to sources, the scandal reportedly implicates former and current director generals and directors of administration and finance, all of whom had signatory authority over the RDA's financial affairs. The matter has now been transferred to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) via the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment for further investigation. According to sources, over the last nine years, payments amounting to nearly Rs1.94 billion were made from RDA's bank accounts to fictitious companies posing as registered vendors. These transactions were conducted through Call Deposit Receipts (CDRs), with around 21 transactions linked to eight companies and thirteen individuals. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) for financial dealings within the RDA were reportedly ignored, and the signatory authority granted to the director general and director admin & finance was misused. Meanwhile, the responsible authorities failed to monitor bank account activity or audit financial records held both in RDA offices and in the respective banks. Following the revelation, NAB has started collecting relevant documents from the RDA and corresponding banks. Letters have also been sent to the private banks involved, requesting transactional records. This has created a troubling situation for all individuals who held the roles of director general or director admin & finance during the past nine yearswhether in service or retired. Questions are being raised as to why they failed to oversee the issuance of CDRs, track their reference letters, and review how funds were funnelled to various companies and individuals. According to sources, investigations aim to identify the public officials, fake companies, and individuals involved in the scam, with the ultimate goal of recovering the embezzled public funds. Legal action is expected against those who received payments either as company representatives or in a personal capacity. On the other hand, the RDA has prepared a proposed Annual Development Plan (ADP) for the fiscal year 2025-26. The plan, which awaits final approval from the Punjab government, includes major infrastructure initiatives under the "Urban Development Package" and "City Development Package." The proposed projects consist of three underpasses, one flyover, a multi-storey parking plaza, and several road infrastructure schemes. Each development initiative has been recommended by the respective members of the national and provincial assemblies.
Express Tribune
24-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pindi prepares uplift plan for FY26
The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has prepared a proposed Annual Development Plan (ADP) for the fiscal year 202526. The plan, which awaits final approval from the Punjab government, includes major infrastructure initiatives under the "Urban Development Package" and "City Development Package." The proposed projects consist of three underpasses, one flyover, a multi-storey parking plaza, and several road infrastructure schemes. Each development initiative has been recommended by the respective members of the national and provincial assemblies. The proposed ADP includes feasibility studies for an underpass at Chandni Chowk, another at Rawal Road on Murree Road, and a third at Marrir Chowk. A flyover is also proposed from Siddiqui Chowk to IJP Road. Under the Urban Development Package, the dualisation of Adiala Road from Khasala Khurd to Gorakhpur is estimated to cost Rs2.539 billion. Expansion and improvement of the 8.5-kilometre stretch from Girja Road (Thalian Interchange) to Akbar Chowk will cost Rs603.32 million. Development on Adiala Road, including the Chakri Link from School Road to Biscuit Factory Chowk and Talsa Road, is projected at Rs1,297.660 million. Meanwhile, the upgrade of High Court Road from Bostan Khan Road to Car Chowk, Bilal Shaheed Chowk, and Scheme-3 Road will require Rs423.241 million. Under the City Development Package, a multi-storey parking plaza will be constructed at Liaquat Bagh on the WASA Buzzer Site at a cost of Rs2,532.500 million. An underpass at Stadium Road, linking Nanth Avenue to IJP Road, is projected to cost Rs770.320 million. Restoration and improvement of the western alternative route from Chandni Chowk to Holy Family Hospital via IJP Road will require Rs335.04 million. Upgrades on Murree Road from Hotel Flashman to Faizabad are budgeted at Rs953.250 million. Improvement works on Dhoke Khabba, Hameed Khan Road, Rawal Road, Millat Colony, and Sher Power Colony Link Road are estimated to cost Rs998 million. Construction on Pirwadhai Road from Chungi No 4 to Adda Pirwadhai will require Rs247.266 million. Rehabilitation of Khayaban-e-Sir Syed Road from Chungi No 4 to IJP Road is projected at Rs256.689 million. Service road development from Old Airport to Flying Club Road through Gulzar-e-Quaid will cost Rs224.227 million. Roadwork from Rawal Road and Murree Road to Old Airport Road is expected to cost Rs584.952 million. Internal road development in Ghazni Colony, Dosera Ground, and Syedpur Scheme is budgeted at Rs247.266 million. Additionally, a pedestrian bridge will be constructed in front of Benazir Bhutto General Hospital on Murree Road, with an estimated cost of Rs66.434 million.
Express Tribune
22-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
RDA sends corruption case to anti-graft body
A financial scandal involving alleged embezzlement at the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has expanded in scope, with the misappropriated amount now estimated at Rs1.94 billion, up from an earlier Rs1.64 billion. In response, RDA Director General Kanzeh Murtaza has referred the case to the director general of Punjab's Anti-Corruption Establishment for investigation. The alleged scam is believed to have stemmed from weak financial discipline and a lack of oversight from authorised officials over the past decade. According to sources, since fiscal year 2016-17, funds received by the RDA from the Metro Bus Project and other sources were reportedly disbursed via Call Deposit Receipts (CDRs) to various companies and fictitious vendors. The issue came to light roughly two weeks ago when a discrepancy in the RDA account balance prompted an internal review. Following this, an inquiry committee was established by the RDA DG. The committee was able to retrieve some records from a single bank but faced obstacles in obtaining documentation from other private banks. Attempts to register a First Information Report (FIR) at city police Station were unsuccessful, with police citing jurisdictional limitations. Consequently, a formal reference was submitted to the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment. Sources suggest that the involvement of private banks and the large scale of the embezzlement - approaching Rs2 billion - could lead to the case being forwarded to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) or the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
