MANDI BAHAUDDIN- The people of Mandi Bahauddin are concerned over the prolonged delay in the completion of various projects including District Headquarters Hospital project, a railway crossing flyover and the Victoria Railway Bridge road perhaps due to rift between PML-N and PML-Q.
During their visits to Mandi Bahauddin, rulers from different political parties including former president Asif Ali Zardari and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif promised to initiate and complete work on these projects. DHQ Hospital project was started about 10 years back but the same was left halfway due to paucity of funds. Some people ascribe the delay with political rift between PML-N and PML-Q leadership. The health project was sanctioned and started by then chief minister Pervaiz Elahi. However, during Shahbaz Sharif’s two tenures as chief minister several other development projects were started and completed but the hospital project could not be completed.
Under new development schemes for 1015-16, funds of Rs 345.995 million have been allocated by Punjab government for sewerage and drainage scheme in urban area of Mandi Bahauddin. Sewerage and drainage system in Mandi Bahauddin city is already in working condition and it is functioning satisfactorily. Therefore, the people of Mandi Bahauddin said that funds allocated for sewerage scheme may be diverted to the hospital project for its completion. Besides, they said that health project is more important than improved sewerage system. However, the flyover on railway crossing gets the second priority. The number of vehicles has increased and great rush and traffic congestion is witnessed on Rasul Road especially when it is time of trains arrival/departure. When the crossing opens, it takes one to two hours to restore smooth flow of traffic. Lots of time of commuters is wasted in waiting, the people said.
The Victoria Bridge over River Jhelum links three districts of Mandi Bahauddin, Sargodha and Jhelum. The bridge had a footpath that is also used by motorcyclists for crossing the river. People of the three district demanded the government should construct the road with concrete on the bridge for vehicular traffic. The rulers including Mandi-based MNAs and MPAs had assured the public of the construction of the bridge but to no avail. The government should fulfill the demands on priority basis to facilitate public life, the people demanded Meanwhile, Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Society supported the statement of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Siraj l Haq pointing out corruption as the major enemy of the nation as it has destroyed every sector in the country. He said the ex-servicemen of Mandi Bahauddin district express their solidarity with the JI chief in his campaign against corruption. At the same time, he opined that mere statements and sit-ins at Lahore and other major cities would not help eradicate corruption.
He suggested forming of anti-corruption committees comprising honest and brave persons to work at district and tehsil levels to trace out corrupt officials and their modus operandi and then register cases against them.
It needs an organised effort to fulfill the dream of the JI leader, he stressed. However, he said ex-servicemen welcome his decision to fight corruption and pledged to work with JI workers in Mandi Bahauddin district to make the campaign success.
