Lahore: Punjab Minister for Communication and Works (C and W) Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bharth has said that development and public facilitation should be judged through facts, figures and work on the ground rather than claims, adding that complete details of Punjab’s extensive road network were available in the official record.

Reacting to a tweet by Muzammil Aslam, the minister said that comparing the National Highway Authority’s federal national highways network with the provincial road network maintained by the Communication and Works Department was not appropriate. He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, a comprehensive programme for construction and rehabilitation of roads had been underway across the province since 2024. During the past two and a half years, around 50,000 kilometres of roads had been constructed and rehabilitated through various relevant departments, he added.

Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bharth said that 1,129 roads spanning 1,795 kilometres had been completed in just 75 days. He said Rs79 billion had been allocated under the Local Roads Programme, under which work was carried out on 1,530 roads, covering 3,400 kilometres.

He said 462 roads had been rehabilitated in Punjab, while 690 roads had been rehabilitated in South Punjab. As many as 124 flood-affected roads had also been completely restored, he added.

The minister said the 93.5-kilometre Multan-Vehari Dual Carriageway and 24-kilometre Faisalabad-Chiniot Dual Carriageway had been completed, while the Rawalpindi Signal-Free Corridor had also been completed in 179 days. He said the road network under the Communication and Works Department extended to approximately 80,000 kilometres, while the department was also supervising thousands of bridges and culverts. He said mapping and geo-tagging of Punjab’s road network was in progress and modern technology was being used for monitoring. A modern Operations and Monitoring Room had also been established at the C and W Department, he added.

Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bharth said transparency and competition had been ensured through e-tendering, resulting in savings of approximately Rs100 billion. He said development of road infrastructure in Punjab was a practical manifestation of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision.

The minister invited Muzammil Aslam to visit Punjab, examine the official record and witness the development work on the ground. He said a TV programme could also be arranged to present the figures before the public and have them verified.

Lahore: Punjab Minister for Communication and Works (C and W) Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bharth has said that development and public facilitation should be judged through facts, figures and work on the ground rather than claims, adding that complete details of Punjab’s extensive road network were available in the official record.

Reacting to a tweet by Muzammil Aslam, the minister said that comparing the National Highway Authority’s federal national highways network with the provincial road network maintained by the Communication and Works Department was not appropriate. He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, a comprehensive programme for construction and rehabilitation of roads had been underway across the province since 2024. During the past two and a half years, around 50,000 kilometres of roads had been constructed and rehabilitated through various relevant departments, he added.

Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bharth said that 1,129 roads spanning 1,795 kilometres had been completed in just 75 days. He said Rs79 billion had been allocated under the Local Roads Programme, under which work was carried out on 1,530 roads, covering 3,400 kilometres.

He said 462 roads had been rehabilitated in Punjab, while 690 roads had been rehabilitated in South Punjab. As many as 124 flood-affected roads had also been completely restored, he added.

The minister said the 93.5-kilometre Multan-Vehari Dual Carriageway and 24-kilometre Faisalabad-Chiniot Dual Carriageway had been completed, while the Rawalpindi Signal-Free Corridor had also been completed in 179 days. He said the road network under the Communication and Works Department extended to approximately 80,000 kilometres, while the department was also supervising thousands of bridges and culverts. He said mapping and geo-tagging of Punjab’s road network was in progress and modern technology was being used for monitoring. A modern Operations and Monitoring Room had also been established at the C and W Department, he added.

Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bharth said transparency and competition had been ensured through e-tendering, resulting in savings of approximately Rs100 billion. He said development of road infrastructure in Punjab was a practical manifestation of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision.

The minister invited Muzammil Aslam to visit Punjab, examine the official record and witness the development work on the ground. He said a TV programme could also be arranged to present the figures before the public and have them verified.