Rawalpindi Division

Rawalpindi: [ReNews Pakistan]
Maarka e Haq Square in Rawalpindi, formerly known as Kachehry Chowk, has been opened for traffic following the completion of a major remodelling project. The project is aimed at reducing traffic pressure at one of the city’s busiest intersections and providing improved commuting facilities to citizens.
Completed within six months, the project includes the construction of three underpasses and three flyovers to ensure uninterrupted traffic flow. The upgraded junction is expected to provide significant relief to commuters who had long been facing traffic congestion around Kachehry Chowk and its adjoining routes.
Chief Traffic Officer Rawalpindi Farhan Aslam said the opening of Maarka e Haq Square for traffic marks an important milestone in the city’s traffic infrastructure. According to him, more than 200,000 vehicles will now be able to pass through the intersection daily without major disruption.
The CTO said that during the construction phase, traffic was diverted to alternative routes under a comprehensive traffic management plan. He noted that keeping more than 200,000 vehicles moving through alternate routes on a daily basis during the project was a major challenge, but effective planning and coordinated strategy helped prevent serious traffic issues across the city.
Farhan Aslam said more than 750 traffic police officers and personnel performed round-the-clock duties during the remodelling work to maintain smooth vehicular movement and guide citizens regarding temporary diversions.
He added that citizens were continuously kept informed about route changes, closures and diversions through social media and other communication platforms.
The CTO appreciated the services of traffic police personnel and thanked citizens for their patience, cooperation and tolerance during the construction period. He said Rawalpindi Traffic Police would continue its efforts to provide better traffic facilities and further improve road safety for citizens.

Rawalpindi : ReNews Pakistan
It has been revealed that 34 housing schemes located within the limits of Rawalpindi Division are using Islamabad’s name for the sale of plots, even though these schemes are not situated within the boundaries of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
The matter came to light through a letter sent by the DG Spatial Planning and Director Master Plan to the Director General of the Competition Commission of Pakistan.
The letter pointed out that several housing schemes located in Rawalpindi Division are creating the impression through their marketing and advertising campaigns that these projects fall within Islamabad’s limits, whereas in reality, they are outside the administrative boundaries of the federal capital.
Authorities have also sent a list of 20 housing projects along with the letter. According to the letter, these schemes are using Islamabad’s name in their marketing and creating a misleading impression for buyers. The letter termed this practice misleading for consumers and recommended that the relevant forum review the matter.
The letter further clarified that there is no official sector to the southwest of Islamabad’s sectors A-17, B-17, C-17, E-17, F-17, G-17, H-17 and I-17. In this context, the names of 27 more housing schemes have also been mentioned, which are not located within Islamabad’s boundaries but are presenting their projects as being connected to Islamabad in different ways.
According to officials, such marketing creates confusion among ordinary buyers, leading them to believe that the relevant project is part of Islamabad’s legal boundaries or master plan. The letter stated that such claims need to be examined so that citizens buying plots can be provided with accurate information and transparency can be maintained in the real estate market.
According to sources, the relevant authorities have requested the Competition Commission to review the advertising campaigns and claims of housing schemes that are using Islamabad’s name to market their projects, despite being administratively located in Rawalpindi Division or other adjoining areas.

Rawalpindi | Riaz Hussain ReNews Pakistan
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif inaugurated Marka e Haq Square, a key project of the signal-free corridor in Rawalpindi. According to the Punjab government, the project was completed in just 179 days against the scheduled target of 190 days. The completed works include five underpasses, two overhead bridges and a modern pedestrian bridge.
During the inauguration ceremony, Rawalpindi’s Kachehri Chowk was named Marka e Haq Square in connection with the historic day. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif unveiled the project milestone, followed by a prayer ceremony.
The Punjab chief minister also visited the signal-free corridor and inspected the overhead bridge and other roads. She reviewed the signal-free project from Annexy Chowk to GPO Chowk. Provincial Minister for Communications and Works Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bharath briefed the chief minister in detail on various aspects of the project.
Officials said the signal-free corridor, established in one of Rawalpindi’s busiest areas, would facilitate the movement of more than 200,000 vehicles daily. The city’s first state-of-the-art pedestrian bridge has also been constructed at Marka e Haq Square to provide a safe passage for pedestrians.
During the briefing, it was stated that two phases of the signal free corridor from Rawat to the Motorway have been completed, while the third phase will be completed soon. Overall, a 25-kilometre-long signal-free corridor will be developed from Rawat to the Motorway, comprising nine underpasses and three flyovers.
According to the Punjab government, underpasses will also be constructed at Race Course, Charing Cross and AFIC Chowk to reduce traffic pressure in Rawalpindi and provide uninterrupted travel facilities to citizens.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said the signal free corridor would transform Rawalpindi’s urban culture. She said the government was working rapidly to modernise urban infrastructure and provide citizens with safer, faster and improved travel facilities.