logo
Sahulat bazaars to offer relief to citizens

Sahulat bazaars to offer relief to citizens

Express Tribune27-06-2025
Rawalpindi Commissioner Aamir Khattak has announced the establishment of new Sasta Sahulat Bazaars across all six districts and 24 tehsils of Rawalpindi Division.
Orders have been issued to identify and formally allocate 3 to 5 kanals of government land in each location for this purpose. The commissioner made the announcement while chairing a special meeting regarding the setup of Sahulat Bazaars. Deputy commissioners from all six districts of the division participated, with DCs from Jhelum, Murree, Attock, and Chakwal joining via video link.
Commissioner Khattak stated that the Sahulat Bazaars are a flagship project aimed at providing essential food items, vegetables and fruits at prices lower than those in the open market. "These markets will serve as a practical relief initiative for the public, helping to stabilise prices and curb hoarding," he added.
Funds have already been allocated for the Punjab Sahulat Bazaar Authority under the Annual Development Programme 2025, ensuring the availability of necessary financial resources for the timely completion of the project. The commissioner emphasised that the markets must be fully operational before Ramazan 2026.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ring Road project hits another snag
Ring Road project hits another snag

Express Tribune

time07-08-2025

  • Express Tribune

Ring Road project hits another snag

The long-stalled Rawalpindi Ring Road (RR) project, which has remained in limbo for the past 24 years, is once again facing the prospect of further delays. Full land acquisition for the project has yet to be completed, while several critical bridge and interchange designs remain pending. Additionally, the rising cost of construction materials - particularly cement, steel, and aggregate - is expected to further inflate the project's overall budget. The 38.3-kilometre Ring Road, with an estimated cost of Rs24 billion, comprises five interchanges, two major river bridges, seven canal bridges, one railway bridge, 11 overhead bridges, and ten underpasses. Rawalpindi Division Commissioner and RR Project Director, Aamir Khattak, has taken serious note of the project's lagging progress. During a detailed site visit, he undertook a thorough inspection of the construction activities, project offices, and quality of execution. Expressing grave concern over the sluggish pace, the commissioner reviewed the overall status of the project and issued clear instructions to accelerate progress in order to meet the defined targets. Emphasising the importance of preemptive planning in light of the monsoon season, he called for the implementation of a robust strategy to ensure continuity of work during periods of heavy rainfall. Khattak further directed that land acquisition processes for the Thallian Interchange be commenced immediately. Additionally, an urgent meeting with the National Highway Authority (NHA) chairman was proposed to expedite the issuance of the No Objection Certificate (NOC) and to finalise approval of the revised design plans. Directives were also issued to begin construction of the bridge at Chakri Interchange, complete the slope cutting and formation work, and initiate sub-base work at all sites where progress has yet to begin. Acceleration of works at the railway bridge and Banth Interchange was also mandated. The commissioner was informed that the overall physical progress of the Ring Road project currently stands at 70%. Backfilling operations are underway on various culverts, rivers, and subways between the Thallian and Banth interchanges. Superstructure activities, including deck launching on several bridges, have also recommenced. He further instructed that detailed daily progress reports be compiled, with work tracked by component and activity. The project is to be monitored in four defined segments: Thallian to Chakri, Chakri to Khasala, Khasala to Chak Beli, and Chak Beli to Banth. A comprehensive schedule outlining all remaining tasks within each segment must be developed. Furthermore, the Commissioner ordered immediate rehabilitation of access roads to construction sites, many of which are currently in poor condition. Fencing installation and other associated civil works must also begin without delay. The Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) has been tasked with assessing the performance of all subcontractors and replacing any that are underperforming. Absolute compliance with quality standards and timely completion targets is to be enforced.

RCB cuts spending, hikes water charges
RCB cuts spending, hikes water charges

Express Tribune

time15-07-2025

  • Express Tribune

RCB cuts spending, hikes water charges

The competent authority has approved the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board's budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 with a cut of Rs485.7 million, reducing the original proposal from Rs7.436 billion to a revised estimate of Rs6.951 billion. The cuts were primarily made in the allocations for miscellaneous expenses and maintenance & repair works. According to details, the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board had initially passed the Rs7.436 billion budget in a board meeting for the 10-ward densely populated cantonment area and submitted it to the Director of Military Lands and Cantonments, Rawalpindi Region, for final approval. The approved budget includes: Rs3.208 billion for salaries and pensions (approved without any deductions), Rs1.542 billion for miscellaneous expenses (after a Rs34 million cut), Rs600 million for general works (approved in full), Rs385 million for maintenance and repair (after a Rs59 million cut), For comparison, the authority had imposed Rs800 million in cuts in the previous 2024-25 budget. According to Cantonment Board sources, the board achieved 86% performance against last year's budget targets. Despite the new budget, residents continue to face serious issues in the cantonment area — particularly in the densely populated back-end localities, which contrast sharply with the well-developed front areas. Problems include broken roads and streets, lack of street lighting, poor sanitation, a faulty sewerage system, encroachments, unregulated commercial activity in residential areas, and widespread illegal construction. The most pressing concern remains the lack of access to drinking water. Due to the absence of a proper water supply network, many residents are forced to install private borewells at their own expense. Adding to public frustration, the Cantonment Board has now increased water supply charges and sanitation taxes by 100% to 200% in the post-budget board meeting. In protest, elected members walked out of the session and announced they would challenge the decision in the Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi Bench. RMC prioritises uplift projects Our correspondent The Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) approved an annual budget worth Rs8.80 billion for the fiscal year 2025-26, featuring a surplus balance of Rs442.5 million. Municipal Corporation Administrator and Rawalpindi Commissioner Engineer Aamir Khattak sanctioned the budget after detailed discussions on the proposals presented by Chief Officer Imran Ali. According to the official budget figures, the total resources — comprising last year's closing balance, the opening balance for the new fiscal year, and projected revenue collections — stand at Rs8.80 billion. Of this, Rs2.30 billion has been allocated for non-development expenditures, including salaries and pensions, with a special provision of Rs800 million reserved exclusively for pension payments. The development budget has been allocated at Rs6.04 billion. Key allocations under the development budget include Rs1.92 billion for ongoing development schemes, Rs1.90 billion for new annual development programmes (ADP), Rs2 billion earmarked for road carpeting and infrastructure rehabilitation, Rs176.1 million designated for sports and cultural activities. During the current fiscal year, the Municipal Corporation plans to prioritise the completion of several ongoing and new development schemes. These include carpeting of city roads, construction and repair of streets, upgrades to the drainage and sewerage systems, construction and maintenance of nullahs, installation of streetlights, and establishment of an underground cable network in Raja Bazaar and Commercial Market.

New levies to raise fuel oil prices
New levies to raise fuel oil prices

Express Tribune

time03-07-2025

  • Express Tribune

New levies to raise fuel oil prices

OCAC urged the Special Investment Facilitation Council to intervene and recommend the withdrawal of petroleum and climate support levies on furnace oil, which would help restore policy consistency and support critical sectors. PHOTO: FILE Listen to article The Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC) has cautioned the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) that the climate support and petroleum levies on furnace oil have become effective from July 1, 2025, which will raise its price by over 80%, making many industries, shipping services and independent power producers (IPPs) unviable. In a letter sent to SIFC, OCAC Chairman Adil Khattak said that the advisory council and its member companies had expressed deep concern and protested over the imposition of petroleum levy of Rs82,077 per metric ton on furnace oil through the Finance Act 2025. "This levy, in addition to the Climate Support Levy of Rs2,665 per metric ton, poses a serious threat to the overall business environment," he said. "While we acknowledge and appreciate the support extended by the Special Investment Facilitation Council in securing an interim relief from the government – through the recovery of inadmissible general sales tax (GST) on petroleum products via the inland freight equalisation margin (IFEM), this remains a temporary measure with limited scope," he said and demanded a sustainable solution by restoring the taxable status of currently exempt petroleum products, ie, motor spirit (petrol), high-speed diesel (HSD), kerosene oil and light diesel oil (LDO). He called SIFC's continued support pivotal until full and permanent resolution of the matter. Khattak stated that the abrupt imposition of levies on furnace oil without prior consultation with the industry reflects a complete disconnect from the economic and operational challenges being faced by the sector. Furnace oil is a deregulated product and its pricing is governed by market forces. It is mainly used to meet energy needs of the domestic industry. "The imposition of such a substantial fiscal burden will have widespread and adverse financial repercussions across multiple business sectors, threatening their viability and long-term sustainability," he remarked. OCAC said that the new levies would increase furnace oil prices by approximately 80%, making its use economically unviable for key industries such as cement, shipping, textile, glass, tyre manufacturing, large-scale industrial units, foundries and other sectors reliant on boilers and furnaces (commonly referred to as general trade). This drastic price increase would eliminate domestic furnace oil demand and cause a sharp decline in industrial activity, potentially resulting in partial or complete operational shutdowns, especially where no viable fuel alternatives exist, it warned. In the letter, OCAC underscored that this measure was in direct contradiction to the government's stated commitment to promoting domestic manufacturing. Rather than enhancing revenues, it is likely to significantly reduce or eliminate furnace oil sales within the country, thereby slashing associated sales tax revenues and undermining industrial competitiveness. "It will also defeat the objective of collecting the envisaged revenue through the imposition of petroleum and climate support levies." In the absence of domestic demand, the advisory council said, local refineries would be forced to export furnace oil at a considerable financial loss. This will further strain the financial condition of Pakistan's refining sector and compromise its sustainability. It pointed out that the government had recently renegotiated tariffs with furnace oil-based IPPs but the new levies would substantially increase fuel costs, pushing those plants lower on the merit order and rendering them inactive. "This will nullify the gains from recent renegotiations while still obligating the government to make capacity payments, effectively increasing the burden on national finances." In light of the above, OCAC urged SIFC to intervene and recommend the withdrawal of petroleum and climate support levies on furnace oil. It believes this will help restore policy consistency, support critical sectors of the economy and uphold the principles of fair and sustainable economic development. "We remain committed to engaging in constructive dialogue and are available for an urgent meeting to further discuss this matter in the national interest," the OCAC chairman added.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store