The CM of Punjab deserves thousand praises and congratulations for successful completion and inauguration of the Metro Bus Service on a 27km road, albeit, some ugly scenes of beating, manhandling, and thrashing of young doctors by the Punjab Police. The doctors were on a hunger strike for non-acceptance of their demands for service structure. Otherwise, the ceremony was graceful and a wonderful present for people of Lahore, while it is enviable for residents of other cities, especially the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
I feel jealous of the people of Lahore who enjoy a free luxury ride in the new buses. The reason for resentment being that in Lahore the construction of under passes, flyovers, and overheads bridges are carried out within the specified time, with exception of the 6th road flyover, most of the projects for Rawalpindi announced by stalwarts of PMLN have gone ignored. For instance, the mega project of ring road for the city of Rawalpindi from Rawat to Motorway promised by leader of the opposition in the National Assembly and the construction of high rise expressway from GPO to Faizabad announced by Mr Hanif Abbasi and countenanced by the CM have been forsaken.
Similarly, another development scheme launched by General Musharraf in 2007 – Leh Expressway starting from Amir Chowk to IJ Principal Road, Islamabad– has been shelved. Moreover, the expansion of the railway bridge at Marir Chowk could not be implemented due to the lack of necessary funds by the Punjab government (The News). The commuters and pedestrians suffer a great deal of hardship for this incomplete project as this is the only main intersection linking Rawalpindi city to cantonment.
This being the story of Rawalpindi, one of the major cities of the province, one wonders how neglected and deprived would the inhabitants of other cities in the province, especially the South. The CM ought to solve this mystery with his administration, how the projects in the city of Lahore have been completed so swiftly, but projects in other cities of the province have either been shelved or are moving at a snail’s pace. Otherwise, it would reinforce the general perception that main focus of Khadim-e-Ala is on Lahore and vicinity.
