RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government has initiated a high-level investigation into the Rawalpindi Ring Road project following allegations of unauthorized alterations to its approved design.
Additional Chief Secretary of Punjab, Ahmed Raza Sarwar, has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive review and preparing a preliminary report on the matter. As part of the inquiry, Mr. Sarwar visited Rawalpindi to secure all official project records from the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA).
The scope of the investigation includes a rigorous audit of No Objection Certificates (NOCs), project maps, official approvals, land-use permits, building plans, and the authorization of petrol pumps and access roads.
The controversy surfaced following a writ petition filed in the Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court. The situation further intensified after the RDA filed an intra-court appeal, leading to a conflict regarding the project’s execution.
Central to the probe is whether design changes were implemented without the explicit approval of the Punjab government and the legal basis upon which NOCs were issued to provide access to private service areas. Officials are specifically examining the validity of an NOC dated January 28, 2026.
The investigation carries heavy financial implications. According to available records, investor Mazhar Rahim Awan entered the project following what were presented as legal approvals. Mr. Awan reportedly purchased over 102 kanals of land, deposited Rs 31.784 crore in government dues, and invested more than Rs 753.2 crore into the development of a service area project.
However, the RDA has since shifted its position in its intra-court appeal, asserting that granting access to the service area from the Ring Road compromises the project’s approved design and disrupts the intended traffic system.
The Punjab government is now conducting a full legal review of the various approval stages to determine where the discrepancy occurred and to resolve the conflict between the issued NOCs and the RDA’s current technical stance.
