Rawalpindi Signal-Free Corridor Opens as Punjab Launches Rs36bn Water Plan

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif this week inaugurated Marka-e-Haq Square in Rawalpindi, completing a signal-free corridor project that promises to move more than 200,000 vehicles daily through the city’s most congested stretches. The milestone comes as the provincial government simultaneously approved a Rs36 billion initiative to deliver clean drinking water to the city, part of a broader push to modernize Rawalpindi’s urban infrastructure. Environmental and safety challenges also dominate local headlines, with anti-smog campaigns intensifying and a high-profile murder case drawing a demand for justice from Pakistan’s First Lady.

🗳️ CM Maryam Nawaz Opens Marka-e-Haq Square as Signal-Free Rawalpindi Takes Shape

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif formally inaugurated Marka-e-Haq Square in Rawalpindi, marking a milestone in the city’s ambitious Signal-Free Rawalpindi infrastructure project. The initiative completed five underpasses, two overhead bridges, and a pedestrian bridge in just 179 days, a pace officials described as unprecedented for a project of this scale in the Punjab capital region. The stretch from Rawalpindi Kutchery Chowk to the Rekhi Din area has been officially designated Marka-e-Haq Square and now features the city’s first state-of-the-art pedestrian bridge at that junction. According to a briefing by Communications and Works Minister Malik Sohaib Ahmad Bharth, the completed signal-free corridor will accommodate over 200,000 vehicles daily through one of Rawalpindi’s most historically congested zones. Two phases of the broader Rawat-to-Motorway corridor have been completed, with work on the third phase expected to begin shortly. When fully realized, the 25-kilometre route will encompass nine underpasses and three flyovers, fundamentally transforming movement across the city. Additional underpasses are planned for Race Course, Chairing Cross, and AFIC Chowk intersections. CM Nawaz said the project would reshape Rawalpindi’s urban culture and pledged that infrastructure ambitions for the city would not slow. [2]

🏢 Punjab Clears Rs36 Billion to Bring Clean Drinking Water to Rawalpindi

The Punjab government has approved a Rs36 billion project aimed at supplying clean drinking water to Rawalpindi, signaling a major commitment to addressing one of the city’s most persistent infrastructure deficits. Access to safe drinking water has long been a challenge for Rawalpindi’s dense urban and peri-urban populations, where aging supply lines and contamination risks have contributed to recurring public health concerns across numerous neighbourhoods. The approval comes amid heightened attention to municipal services in the provincial capital region, with the government under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz accelerating infrastructure spending in both Rawalpindi and Lahore. While detailed timelines and contractor selection are expected to be announced in subsequent phases, the government has indicated the project will involve comprehensive upgrades to the city’s water distribution network. The initiative complements the ongoing Signal-Free Rawalpindi corridor and Suthra Punjab sanitation drives, suggesting a coordinated urban improvement agenda being pursued in parallel. Local residents and civil society groups have welcomed the announcement, though many have called on authorities to ensure transparency and timely execution given the scale of public investment and the urgency of need across underserved communities. [6]

🤝 Suthra Punjab Steps Up Cleaning and Anti-Smog Operations Across Rawalpindi

The Suthra Punjab initiative has intensified its cleaning and anti-smog operations across Rawalpindi as the city prepares for the region’s notoriously difficult winter smog season. The Associated Press of Pakistan reports that the campaign, operating under the provincial government’s broader environmental agenda, has deployed additional teams to clear waste, address illegal dumping, and enforce anti-pollution measures at key locations throughout the city. Anti-smog drives in Punjab have gained renewed urgency following several years in which the Lahore-Rawalpindi corridor recorded hazardous air quality levels that drew international attention and triggered widespread public health alerts. The Suthra Punjab initiative pairs active sanitation teams with public awareness efforts, targeting commercial areas, roadsides, and drainage channels where unchecked waste contributes to both air and water degradation. Officials have reiterated that no leniency will be extended to those found violating anti-smog regulations, with authorities emphasizing the need to protect residents’ health ahead of what is expected to be another challenging autumn and winter period. Community groups have welcomed the intensified campaign while urging authorities to sustain it year-round rather than treating it as a purely pre-winter measure tied to seasonal political pressure. [1]

First Lady Demands Thorough Investigation After Rawalpindi Woman Found Dead

Pakistan’s First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari has demanded a thorough inquiry into the suspected murder of Hina Javed, 45, a Rawalpindi woman found dead with her hands tied behind her back and wire wrapped around her neck, in a case that has gripped public attention across the country. Arab News Pakistan reports that Javed’s family has accused her husband, a domestic worker, and her father-in-law of involvement in the alleged killing, raising grave concerns about domestic violence and institutional accountability within the criminal justice system. The First Lady expressed deep personal concern over the case and called specifically on the Punjab government to ensure a transparent and impartial investigation free from interference. The case has drawn significant attention in Rawalpindi and beyond, with women’s rights organizations citing it as part of a troubling pattern of femicide that continues to demand stronger legal protections and faster judicial responses. Advocates have urged authorities to act swiftly on the First Lady’s call, warning that delays in high-profile cases undermine public confidence in institutions meant to protect vulnerable citizens. The Punjab government and Rawalpindi police are under pressure to demonstrate concrete progress on the investigation and ensure those responsible are brought to account. [7]

Sources: [2] RADIO PAKISTAN · [6] The Nation (Pakistan ) · [1] | Associated Press Of Pakistan · [7] Arab News PK