cda launches rs507bn
|

CDA launches Rs5.07bn Six-Lane Road project from Faizabad to Koral Chowk

ByJustpaste.in

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has accelerated plans to construct a new six-lane carriageway along Service Road East, approving a project worth Rs5.072 billion aimed at easing chronic traffic congestion on the Islamabad Expressway and improving connectivity between Faizabad and Koral Chowk.

The 9.25-kilometre road will run parallel to the Islamabad Expressway, extending from Faizabad to Koral Chowk near Gulberg Housing Society. Once completed, the new corridor is expected to provide motorists with an alternative route, reducing travel time on one of the capital’s busiest transport arteries while facilitating smoother traffic movement for commuters travelling to Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Officials said the project forms part of the CDA’s broader strategy to upgrade the capital’s road infrastructure in response to increasing traffic volumes and rapid urban expansion in surrounding residential and commercial areas.

According to official sources, the new carriageway is expected to improve access to several housing societies and neighbourhoods located along the eastern side of the Islamabad Expressway. Authorities believe the project will not only ease traffic bottlenecks but also stimulate commercial development by increasing the value of properties and attracting new businesses along the corridor.

To facilitate construction, the CDA has earmarked approximately Rs500 million for the relocation of critical utility infrastructure. This includes fibre-optic networks operated by the Islamabad Police Safe City Project, the Strategic Plans Division (SPD), Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), and the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO).

Sources said extensive utility shifting will be required before the main construction work can proceed at full pace. The project involves relocating 11kV electricity distribution lines, shifting 242 electricity poles, and relocating 248 graves that fall within the road alignment. Earthwork activities have already begun at selected locations.

The road project also incorporates environmental protection measures. Officials said engineers have planned the preservation of 22 underground water channels, natural streams, and stormwater drains located along the proposed route to minimise environmental disruption and maintain the area’s natural drainage system.

A breakdown of utility relocation costs shows that around Rs406 million has been allocated for IESCO infrastructure, Rs87.3 million for shifting Safe City fibre-optic networks, and approximately Rs6 million for relocating SPD facilities. Work on these utility relocation components is expected to commence after the completion of technical and administrative formalities.

A senior CDA official said the authority has revised the project’s completion timeline, reducing the original target of 12 months to between six and eight months. However, the official acknowledged that the timely relocation of utilities remains the biggest hurdle and will largely determine whether the revised deadline can be achieved.

Similar Posts

  • | |

    Activist urges President to withdraw Civil awards …

    ByJustpaste.in

      ISLAMABAD: Pakistani citizen and activist Ashba Kamran has formally written to President Asif Ali Zardari, calling for the immediate withdrawal of national civil awards announced by the government on August 14, 2026, for serving bureaucrats, federal secretaries and ministers. In her letter addressed to the President, Kamran argued that awarding national honours to salaried bureaucrats and ministers for carrying out their routine official responsibilities amounts to a violation of the Constitution and relevant laws. She maintained that government officials should not receive national awards merely for performing duties for which they are already appointed and paid. According to the letter, Kamran had previously raised similar concerns with the Presidency in August 2025 and had sent a formal reminder regarding the issue. However, she claimed that despite the earlier communication, the administration once again took what she described as an unconstitutional step by including serving government officials among the recipients of civil awards announced on August 14 this year. The activist cited constitutional and legal provisions to support her position. Referring to Article 259(2) of the Constitution of Pakistan, she argued that national awards are intended to recognise exceptional achievements, including acts of bravery, distinguished services by members of the armed forces, academic distinction and extraordinary and selfless public service. She further maintained that the concept of “public service” in the context of national honours should refer to exceptional and self-sacrificing contributions rather than the routine responsibilities performed by bureaucrats and ministers in their official capacities. Such responsibilities, she argued, are already compensated through regular salaries and official benefits. Kamran also referred to the Decorations Act, 1975, and other relevant laws governing national civil awards. According to her interpretation, these legal provisions do not permit civil honours to be linked simply to an individual’s administrative position, seniority or government employment. The letter further raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest. Kamran argued that granting national awards to serving government officials for routine administrative work could encourage a culture of favouritism and preferential treatment. She called for greater transparency and adherence to established legal standards when selecting recipients of national honours. The activist also invoked Article 5(2) of the Constitution, which establishes the obligation to obey the Constitution and the law. She argued that this obligation applies to every citizen, including the head of state and government officials. Kamran presented two key demands in her letter. First, she called for an administrative order to immediately withdraw the awards granted to serving bureaucrats and ministers included in the August 14, 2026 list where the honours were allegedly awarded for performing their routine official responsibilities. Second, she urged the Cabinet Division to issue clear instructions preventing officials who are merely performing their regular administrative and governmental duties from being eligible for future nominations for national civil awards. A copy of the letter was also sent to the Cabinet Secretary and the Cabinet Division in Islamabad for consideration and appropriate action. The matter has raised questions about the criteria used for selecting recipients of national honours and the distinction between exceptional public service and the routine responsibilities associated with government positions.

  • | |

    Pakistan auto sales jump 80% in July

    ByJustpaste.in

    Pakistan’s automobile sector started fiscal year 2026-27 on a strong note, with overall vehicle sales rising nearly 80% year-on-year in July 2026, according to data from the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA). Sales of cars, light commercial vehicles, vans, jeeps and electric vehicles reached 19,818 units during the month, compared with 11,034 units in July 2025. However, sales fell 13% month-on-month from the 22,741 units recorded in June. Analysts attributed the annual increase to stronger passenger-car demand, new vehicle launches, the entry of new manufacturers and growing auto financing. Leena Abid of Arif Habib Limited said passenger-car sales led the overall growth, jumping 141% year-on-year. She noted that June had benefited from pre-budget purchases, while uncertainty over the new Auto Policy affected bookings in July. Pak Suzuki recorded the highest sales at 10,120 units, representing a 175% year-on-year increase, although its sales declined 12% from June. Indus Motor Company sold 5,089 units, up 53% annually and 45% from the previous month. Honda Atlas Cars reported 2,640 units, marking a 76% annual increase but an 11% monthly decline. Sazgar Engineering sold 663 passenger vehicles. The two-wheeler market also performed strongly, with industry sales increasing 39% year-on-year to around 169,713 units, although volumes slipped slightly from June. Atlas Honda continued to dominate the segment. Commercial vehicles also recorded substantial annual growth. Truck sales surged 169% year-on-year, while bus sales increased 14%. Ghandhara Automobiles sold 111 trucks, up 247% annually and 31% month-on-month. Ghandhara Industries reported 424 units, a 212% year-on-year increase. Meanwhile, tractor sales rose 4% year-on-year to 1,242 units but plunged 59% from June. Al-Ghazi Tractors sold 414 units, up 29% annually, while Millat Tractors recorded 828 units, down 5% year-on-year. Analysts expect market performance to remain closely linked to the new Auto Policy, financing conditions and consumer demand in the coming months.

  • |

    Angela Levin melts over George, Charlotte and Louis’ rare Scotland outing

    ByJustpaste.in

    Royal commentator Angela Levin has reacted to new photos of Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Levin is widely known for her sharp criticism of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. This time, though, her reaction was far warmer. The photos came from a rare public outing. Kate Middleton and Prince William appeared together with their three children at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. It isn’t often the young royals are seen together at such events. Following the outing, Kensington Palace shared a striking family photo and video online. The palace captioned the post with a message about the day. “Incredible atmosphere at the Commonwealth Games today. Watching world-class talent compete and seeing the power of sport to bring people together is truly special. Thank you to everyone involved for such a wonderful day,” the caption read. Shortly after, a royal fan account shared a collage of the three children on X, formerly Twitter. The post simply named the children alongside the date of the appearance. Levin responded to the post directly. She wrote, “Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are gorgeous children.” The comment stood out, given her usual tone when discussing the wider royal family. This outing also carried extra weight beyond the photos themselves. It marked the first official occasion where George, Charlotte, and Louis were seen publicly in Scotland together. While in Scotland, William and Kate hold the titles Duke and Duchess of Rothesay. During their visit, the couple spent time with Team Wales athletes and their families at the Games. Afterward, the couple shared a message celebrating the competitors. “Congratulations to every athlete taking part in this year’s Commonwealth Games! A special well done to Team Wales for proudly representing the nation on the international stage. It was a pleasure to join the athletes today at Wales House. Llongyfarchiadau, Team Wales!” they wrote. The appearance quickly caught attention online. Many royal watchers praised how natural and relaxed the family looked throughout the day. For a family that generally keeps its children away from heavy public exposure, this outing offered a rare and candid look into their lives. Even longtime critics like Levin found themselves charmed by the moment, proving that some things manage to cut across royal rivalries entirely.

  • | | |

    Sister reveals shocking details of Imran’s check…

    ByJustpaste.in

    Uzma Khan, sister of incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan, said Friday that the PTI founder had complained of health problems that he believed were connected to his prolonged solitary confinement. She made the remarks during a press conference in Islamabad alongside Imran’s personal physician, Dr Faisal Sultan, following his transfer to hospital for a medical examination. Uzma said she and Dr Sultan were asked to reach Adiala Jail on Friday evening after receiving a phone call. According to her, they arrived at the prison at around 8pm to 8:30pm. She said they were taken to a room belonging to a deputy superintendent of police. After some time, she alleged, Dr Sultan was asked to leave the room with a police official while she was taken separately by a female police officer. Uzma said police officers did not explain where she was being taken or provide clear information about Dr Sultan. She was eventually taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), despite the Supreme Court directing that Imran be shifted to Shifa International Hospital for a medical checkup. According to Uzma, officials told her the visit to Pims was related to a follow-up examination of Imran’s eye condition. She described the hospital environment as unusually dark and said she was taken through the building with the help of a mobile phone flashlight before being brought to an office. Uzma said she was later taken upstairs, where she unexpectedly saw her brother. She recalled that Imran appeared surprised and shocked to see her after a long period apart. He reportedly introduced her to the doctors as his sister, saying they were meeting after about 10 months. Uzma said she informed Imran that he had been brought for a medical examination and was expected to be taken to Shifa International Hospital afterward. She also asked about Dr Sultan but said she was not given a clear answer. The examination eventually focused on Imran’s eye. Uzma said several doctors were present, although she was familiar with only one of them, whom she identified as Dr Arif. Imran has previously received treatment at Pims following the diagnosis of right central retinal vein occlusion, an eye condition identified earlier this year. The Supreme Court had directed authorities to arrange Imran’s medical examination while also instructing that information about his health should not be used for political purposes.

  • |

    Weekly inflation rises 0.15% in second week of August

    ByJustpaste.in

    ISLAMABAD: Weekly inflation increased by 0.15% during the second week of August 2026, pushing the year-on-year inflation rate to 9.11%, according to the latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The weekly Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), which tracks changes in the prices of essential consumer goods, showed a mixed trend during the week. Prices of several food and household items increased, while consumers received some relief from lower prices of petroleum products and selected food commodities. According to the PBS report, prices of 20 out of 51 essential commodities increased during the week under review, while prices of nine items declined. The prices of the remaining 22 commodities remained unchanged. Onion prices surge sharply Among the major price increases, onions recorded the most significant weekly jump, becoming 24.68% more expensive compared with the previous week. The increase is likely to add further pressure on household food budgets, particularly for low-income consumers who are more exposed to fluctuations in basic food prices. The price of gram pulse increased by 3.35%, while chicken became 2.45% more expensive during the week. LPG prices also edged up by 0.67%. Other commodities that recorded weekly price increases included tea, mustard oil, yoghurt and masoor pulse, adding to the overall upward movement in the weekly inflation indicator. Petroleum prices provide some relief The weekly inflation reading was partly offset by declines in the prices of petroleum and several food items. Petrol prices decreased by 2.35% during the week, providing some relief to consumers and transport users. Tomato prices fell by 1.26%, while potatoes became 0.73% cheaper. Diesel prices also declined, though marginally, by 0.29%. Prices of bananas, moong pulse, eggs and sugar also recorded weekly decreases. Despite these reductions, the increase in the prices of several essential food items, particularly onions, pulses and chicken, kept overall weekly inflation in positive territory. Food prices remain major source of annual pressure The year-on-year comparison presents a more pronounced picture of price pressures in several essential commodities. Tomatoes recorded the largest annual increase, with prices rising by 143.77% compared with the same period last year. Onion prices were 125.75% higher, while wheat flour became 77.41% more expensive. LPG prices increased by 55.41% on an annual basis, while diesel recorded a 34.05% increase. Petrol prices were also 23.02% higher than a year earlier. The sharp annual increases in basic food items indicate that consumers continue to face significant pressure in meeting everyday household expenses, even though some commodities have become cheaper compared with last year. Several commodities become cheaper annually The annual data also showed declines in the prices of a number of commodities. Potato prices dropped by 30% compared with a year earlier, marking the largest annual decline among the commodities listed in the report. Sugar prices fell by 17.93%, while chicken became 17.45% cheaper on an annual basis. Gram pulse, eggs and moong pulse also recorded year-on-year declines. The contrasting movements highlight the uneven nature of inflation, with some essential commodities witnessing substantial annual increases while others have recorded notable reductions. The latest PBS figures suggest that although overall inflation remains elevated, price movements continue to vary considerably across different categories. Food, energy and other essential commodities remain key factors influencing household expenditure and the broader cost-of-living situation.

  • | |

    Relative held after toddler dies in alleged assaul…

    ByJustpaste.in

    Police have arrested a close relative after a one-and-a-half-year-old girl died during treatment following an alleged sexual assault in Karachi’s Qayyumabad area. According to police officials, the incident came to light after an emergency call was received, prompting officers to reach the scene and begin an investigation. Family members told investigators that the suspect, who is a close relative of the child, had taken the toddler outside for a walk. When she was brought home, she was reportedly in critical condition. The child was immediately shifted to a hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries despite medical efforts to save her. A doctor involved in the case said the initial medical assessment indicated signs consistent with sexual assault. However, authorities said the final cause and nature of the injuries will be determined after the completion of the medico-legal examination and forensic reports. Following the preliminary investigation, police arrested the suspect from his residence in Karachi. The accused remains in custody, and investigators are questioning him as part of the ongoing probe. Law enforcement officials said evidence is being collected and statements from family members and other witnesses are being recorded. Further legal action will depend on the findings of the medical and forensic examinations. The child’s funeral prayers were offered before she was laid to rest at a local cemetery in Karachi. Police said the investigation is continuing and assured that the case will be pursued in accordance with the law. The incident has drawn widespread concern, with calls for a thorough investigation and strict action against anyone found responsible.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *