Negligence and Corruption Plague Model Bazaar Project in Liaquatpur

LIAQUATPUR (Abu Huraira Alvi) – Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s ambitious Model Bazaar project in Liaquatpur has reportedly fallen victim to severe negligence, mismanagement, and alleged corruption. The Rs. 100 million project, intended to modernize the local marketplace with a Turkish-style design, has turned into a symbol of poor engineering and flawed execution.

According to sources, the Rahim Yar Khan District Council initiated the project four months ago under direct orders from the Chief Minister. As part of the construction, the historic Main and Rail Bazaars were demolished, disrupting commercial activities in the area. Since then, shopkeepers, customers, and pedestrians have faced numerous hardships. The situation worsened during the recent rainy season, when dozens of people were reportedly injured after falling into open pits left unprotected at the construction site.

Investigations reveal that the contractor failed to align the pillar foundations according to the approved architectural plans. During a site visit, the consulting firm’s engineer confirmed that a majority of the foundations were misaligned. In an apparent attempt to cover up the flaw, the contractor allegedly adopted a makeshift “Jugar” approach—dismantling cement and gravel foundations and welding new pillars onto the existing steel structures.

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Observers fear that if construction continues in this manner, the Model Bazaar may become a glaring example of poor architectural planning and execution. Upon learning of the issue, Provincial Assembly Member Chaudhry Mahmood Ahmed reportedly ordered a halt to the work. However, the contractor—described as having strong political backing—continued construction despite the directive.

Local traders and citizens, including Waqar Ahmed, Taj Ghous, Muhammad Ashraf, and Pervaiz Hussain Tabassum, have appealed to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Commissioner Bahawalpur, and Deputy Commissioner Rahim Yar Khan to take immediate notice of the situation.

In response to growing complaints, SDO District Council Muhammad Ali Sarwar visited the site on a holiday and instructed the contractor to rectify the foundation alignment. He confirmed that any misaligned pillars would be dismantled down to the J-bolt level and rebuilt under the supervision of the Urban Unit Consultant and the district engineering department.

“There will be no compromise on the quality of development projects under the district government. Strict action, including blacklisting, will be recommended against negligent contractors,” Sarwar stated.

The situation has sparked public outrage, with demands for accountability and transparency growing louder in Liaquatpur and surrounding areas.