By Mati Ullah Khan
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The long-deprived Bhara Kahu area of the Federal Capital witnessed a large scale construction activities spanning from the rehabilitation of roads/streets to building a hospital and a Cricket ground, offering the local dwellers much to cheer and eulogize the efforts and commitment of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker from NA-53 Ali Nawaz Awan.
It had been well over a decade since any local representative batted an eye to Bhara Kahu, resulting in the dilapidation of its roads & streets and deprivation of its people from basic facilities.
In the last tenure of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), its lawmaker Tariq Fazal Chaudhry paid a little heed to the area and except the rehabilitation of the Simli Dam Road, the pavement of a few streets, and the inauguration of the Islamabad Model College for Girls, nothing substantial was done to mitigate the people’s sufferings.
It’s also worth noting that Tariq Fazal Chaudhry was also the Minister of State for the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) – now dissolved – and all the above-mentioned works were carried out in the last year of his tenure.
Contrary to his predecessor, Ali Nawaz Awan initiated the development activities simultaneously at various Union Councils (UCs) of Bhara Kahu at the outset of assuming the Office.
Though the entire Country had plunged into the issue of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Ali Nawaz Awan – who is also the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Capital Development Authority (CDA) – yet kicked off a number of multi-faceted activities in UC 2, UC 3, UC 4, and UC 5 of NA-53.
Since tattered roads and streets of the locality required prompt attention, the immediate emphasis was placed on it and subsequently major roads i.e. Kiyani Road and Shahdara Road were paved.
Likewise, several streets were repaired & built, and sewerage lines were laid in Bhara Kahu and its adjoining areas.
In addition to that, a 50-bed Basic Health Unit (BHU) at the Simli Dam Road, a Cricket ground at Dhoke Jilani, a Public Park at Murree Road, a Pedestrian Bridge at Satra Mil, and a Tube Well are also being built to ensure the provision of basic facilities to the local dwellers.
Recently, a 10-acre land was also allocated for a graveyard in Bhara Kahu which according to Ali Nawaz Awan will be built as per the design of H-8 and H-11 graveyards.
In the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2020-21, an amount worth Rs 180.332 million was also allocated for the leftover work in Islamabad Model College for Girls, Bhara Kahu.
Apprising about the development work in Bhara Kahu, the Coordination National Highway Authority (NHA) & Focal Person and Incharge Development Schemes Tariq Dildar Chaudhry told the Dispatch News Desk (DND) news agency that an additional Rs 1.5 billion has again been allocated for development works in NA-53 in the Federal Budget 2020-21.
Tariq Dildar Chaudhry further told that in the previous Fiscal Year (FY), Rs 25 million were spent on the construction and pavement of roads/streets in UC 4 of Bhara Kahu; and now, for the ongoing FY, an amount of Rs 70 million has been approved to carry out the development work in the area.
However, despite these, Bhara Kahu has yet to be bestowed with a 3.5-kilometer four-lane flyover to ease the traffic congestion at Main Murree Road.
While inaugurating the newly rebuilt Kiyani Road on July 16, Ali Nawaz Awan assured that as promised in the election manifesto, the people of Bhara Kahu would witness the construction of a flyover before June 30, 2021.
The lawmaker also promised to install street lights on Kiyani Road and build a dual-lane Kiyani Road bridge this year for the smooth flow of traffic.
