NAROWAL: The construction work on the new bridge connecting Pasrur with Sialkot has been stopped due to a lack of funds, Dawn has learnt.

As per details, the bridge over a storm drain near the Islam Medical College and Hospital on Pasrur Road, Sialkot was damaged due to heavy rains and floods during the rainy season last year and traffic from Pasrur, Narowal, Shakargarh and other areas was suspended and citizens were forced to use long alternative routes to reach Sialkot.

In view of the difficulties faced by citizens and travellers, the Punjab highway department, under the supervision of the Sialkot district administration, started constructing a new bridge on the instructions of the Punjab government.

The work on building concrete pillars and beams was started along with the construction work of the bridge and it continued for five months. However, later the construction work was stopped and the contractor left. Thousands of motorcycles, rickshaws, coasters, buses, loaded trucks, trailers, passenger vehicles and other transport were forced to use the old dilapidated bridge connecting Pasrur to Sialkot. The protective wall and pillars on both sides of the damaged single bridge had also collapsed and long queues could be seen on both sides waiting to pass through the single bridge.

Local residents said that there were no safety measures in place for vehicles passing through the old bridge. They said that reflectors or indicators had also not been installed to guide the traffic at night and there were no traffic wardens or police teams to control the traffic passing through the extremely dangerous bridge.

Citizens have demanded that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz take notice of the situation and provide immediate funds for the construction of the bridge.

Sialkot Punjab Highway Department EXEN Kashif Ikram said that the construction of the bridge had been stopped due to the unavailability of funds. He said that the reconstruction work of the bridge would be started once the development funds were received.

Sialkot Deputy Commissioner Saba Asghar Ali was contacted but no response was received till the filing of this report.

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2026