RAWALPINDI: Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) on Wednesday organised a walk on pedestrian Bank Road with an aim to highlight neat and clean environment on the road.

The walk started from Metro Bus Station and ended at the same venue after a round of the Bank Road from Murree Road to Kashmir Road.

The walk was attended by PML-N MNA Hanif Abbasi, Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Broadcasting Barrister Danyal Chaudhary, MNA Malik Ibrar, Station Commander Brigadier Ahmad Nawaz, IG Islamabad Police Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, Rawalpindi and Chaklala cantonment boards officials, students and citizens.

Hanif Abbasi lauded the efforts of RCB in providing a peaceful shopping environment to people. He said that the splendour of the pedestrian street increased at night.

“Earlier, electricity poles and wires were hanging here, but now it reflects an attractive market environment which has created convenience for the women and families,” he said and added that the allocation of four parking areas would further address the parking issue.

“Encroachment was removed from here after two years of hard work. This environment relates to those of the developed countries,” he claimed.

Highlighting the contribution of traders and businessmen, Hanif Abbasi said all stakeholders were taken onboard by RCB during planning and execution of Bank Road project, in which the traders community played their important role to complete the project in two years.

“PML N government always brought prosperity in the shapes of motorways, Rawalpindi Institute Cardiology, Rawalpindi Institute of Urology and also in education sectors”, he said.

Barrister Danyal Chaudhary while appreciating the pedestrian street project said that it was the first project of the country in which the electricity cables were shifted underground.

He said that the pedestrian street would be beneficial for both the public and the traders. He said that a food street will also be set up on Bank Road to further facilitate citizens.

RCB officials said that in phase 2, other areas will be transformed into the same pattern. They said that the transformation project was executed in a way that historic places and monumental icons of Saddar were preserved.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2025