The Punjab government has launched a formal inquiry into the alleged alteration of the approved design of the Rawalpindi Ring Road project, Tribune reported.
Several senior officials are reportedly under scrutiny over alleged procedural irregularities and possible violations of government regulations.
Dispute Details
The dispute centers on an alleged NOC that reportedly allowed privately owned service areas to connect to the controlled-access road.
The RDA told the court that no record of the NOC could be found in its official files, departmental records or dispatch registers, and maintained that any additional access point required prior approval from the competent authorities.
Preliminary Inquiry Ordered
Official sources said Additional Chief Secretary Punjab Ahmad Raza Sarwar has been assigned to conduct a preliminary inquiry and submit a report to the provincial government.
The inquiry will examine whether there is evidence of corruption, violations of standard operating procedures or other administrative irregularities.
If sufficient evidence is found, the matter is expected to be referred to the Anti-Corruption Establishment for a detailed investigation.
Project Records Examined
As part of the inquiry, the Additional Chief Secretary recently visited Rawalpindi and reviewed official records at the office of the Director General of the Rawalpindi Development Authority in the Government Officers’ Residence complex.
The documents included no-objection certificates, approved layouts, access roads and planning approvals related to the project.
Dispute Reaches Lahore High Court
The controversy emerged during proceedings before the Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court.
The RDA filed a petition and later an intra-court appeal challenging the legality of an alleged NOC issued on January 28, 2026.
In its appeal, the RDA said the Ring Road is an ECNEC-approved controlled-access highway.
It argued that any additional entry or exit point, service road or access connection requires prior approval from the competent government authorities and relevant technical forums.
RDA Says NOC Record Is Missing
The RDA maintained that no record of the alleged January 28, 2026 NOC could be found in official files, departmental records or dispatch registers.
According to the authority, allowing an additional access point would alter the project’s approved design, engineering framework, traffic management plan and controlled-access system.
The RDA also said it was only the implementing agency and did not have the authority to independently change the approved route, design, interchanges or access framework.
Petitioner Defends Approval
The petitioner told the court that the NOC had been lawfully issued.
According to the petitioner, the approval enabled land-use conversion, commercial building plans, petrol filling stations, and other developments.
Court records show that the petitioner acquired 46 kanals and 13 marlas of land on the northern side of the project and 56 kanals and one marla on the southern side.
The petitioner claimed to have paid more than Rs31.784 million in government dues and building fees.
It also claimed to have invested more than Rs753.2 million, including third-party contractual commitments, in developing commercial service areas.
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