RAWALPINDI: After a lapse of two months, the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has finalised its annual budget for fiscal year 2026-27, amounting to Rs8.760 billion, with no plan for the improvement of Murree Road.

The finance sub-committee, chaired by Rawalpindi Commissioner and RDA Director General Salman Ghani, vetted the budget and submitted the estimates for development expenditure to the Punjab government for final endorsement.

The finance sub-committee includes representatives from the Finance Department, Planning and Development (P&D) Department, and Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering Department (HUD&PHE). The committee convened to scrutinise and approve the RDA’s financial plan, ensuring alignment with strategic development goals.

During the meeting, it was disclosed that Rs3.917 billion had been earmarked for ongoing and new development schemes aimed at improving infrastructure and urban development in Rawalpindi.

Authority earmarks Rs3.917bn for ongoing and new development schemes

Major projects include the Rawalpindi Ring Road, R3 Project, involving construction of a 38.3km main carriageway from Banth (N-5) to Thalian (M-2), with an allocation of Rs3 million.

The Nullah Leh Project, involving a feasibility study and detailed design of a trunk/outfall sewer along the Nullah Leh corridor (N-5), was allocated Rs1 million and Rawalpindi Ring Road Phase-II, involving a feasibility study and detailed design from Thalian (M-2) to GT Road (N-5), was allocated Rs5 million.

Other schemes include a feasibility survey of the RDA Housing Scheme, a study of the Rawalpindi Master Plan and a physical survey for identification of traffic and planning requirements.

A total of Rs1.079 billion has been earmarked for salaries and office expenditures, including Rs619.8 million for salaries and allowances, Rs140 million for employee benefit schemes and Rs319.5 million for fuel, repairs and other office expenditures.

The RDA will earn Rs4.482 billion from its own sources, while Rs3.917 billion will come from Punjab government grants, the Annual Development Programme and deposit work amounts.

The civic agency is estimated to earn Rs300 million from scrutiny fees from housing societies, Rs450 million from commercialisation fees, Rs350 million from building plan fees, Rs10 million from plot transfer fees, Rs14.9 million from rent of properties, Rs3.5 million from recovery of arrears, Rs3 million from departmental charges, Rs38.51 million from rent of the parking plaza and LED board fees, Rs76 million in bank profits and Rs4 million from miscellaneous sources.

It was informed at the meeting that Rs572 million would be spent on the construction of residential apartments for officials, Rs450 million on the construction of multi-storey buildings on vacant RDA plots, Rs5 million on fencing to protect RDA plots, Rs368 million on the construction of parking spaces in different areas, Rs154 million on feasibility studies and geotechnical investigations, Rs30 million for the RDA Civil Lines Club, Rs87 million for repair and maintenance of RDA buildings and residences, and Rs10 million for improvement of Fawara Chowk Parking Plaza.

It was further informed that Rs9.9 million had been allocated for joint check posts in the garrison city.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2026