Major Rawalpindi Projects Face Delays

With just 14 days left in 2025, work on several long-delayed mega projects in Rawalpindi, including the Leh Expressway and the Children’s Hospital, has failed to begin during the outgoing year.

However, the Punjab government completed three road infrastructure projects in Rawalpindi in 2025, while work on the Kachehri Chowk mega project continues and is expected to finish by March 2026.

The project includes three underpasses, with construction starting in November this year.

During the year, authorities completed the Nawaz Sharif Flyover at Khawaja Corporation Chowk on Adiala Road and underpasses at TM Chowk and GPO Chowk on Mall Road.

In addition, Rawalpindi residents benefited from the launch of the electric bus service.

In the New Year, construction will begin on several new projects, including underpasses at Race Course Chowk, Qabristan Chowk, and Charing Cross Chowk on Peshawar Road, along with a new flyover at Ammar Shaheed Chowk.

Road infrastructure projects worth over Rs30 billion are expected to be completed next year.

Work on the Rs50 billion Rawalpindi Ring Road has reached 75 per cent completion and is scheduled to finish by the last week of March 2026.

Plans have also been approved to expand Murree Road from Liaquat Bagh to Chandni Chowk and to construct an underpass at Ninth Avenue Chowk on IJP Road.

Despite approvals, progress on the long-pending Lai Expressway and Flood Channel Project and the conversion of the Mother and Child Hospital into a 400-bed Children’s Hospital remained stalled, limited to PC-I preparation.

Similarly, kidney and liver transplant services could not begin at the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology and Kidney Transplant, although emergency OPD and dialysis facilities are currently operational under PKLI Rawalpindi.