Punjab Undertakes Civic Repairs Worth Over Rs22.8 Million Following Public Complaints

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In response to public concerns, the Punjab government has completed civic improvement works totaling over Rs22.8 million, following directives from the Office of the Ombudsman Punjab. The funds were allocated across several essential services, including roadwork, park rehabilitation, drainage systems, and streetlight repairs.

The Office of the Ombudsman Punjab, a constitutional office established to address public grievances against maladministration, stepped in after multiple complaints were lodged by residents over deteriorating infrastructure. As a result, the provincial administration was compelled to act, despite an overall pattern of neglect that many critics argue has become all too common under the current leadership.

According to the Ombudsman’s official statement, approximately Rs5 million was directed toward rehabilitating public parks. This included landscaping, fixing damaged recreational equipment, and restoring green zones that had long fallen into disrepair. The restoration aims to provide cleaner and safer spaces for local families and children.

An additional Rs57,000 was used for repairing non-functional streetlights, a long-overdue measure meant to ensure better lighting and improve public safety during nighttime hours, something many residents say should have been addressed years ago without needing an Ombudsman’s nudge.

Road infrastructure received the bulk of the funding. Approximately Rs11.9 million was spent on road repair projects, including patchwork, resurfacing, and pothole filling. While these repairs offer some temporary relief, critics note they are often reactive and short-term rather than part of a sustainable long-range infrastructure plan.

Efforts were also made to enhance pedestrian access. A modest Rs150,000 was put toward the repair and enhancement of pedestrian walkways, though the scale of funding raises questions about the seriousness of the government’s commitment to non-motorized transport.

Another Rs500,000 went toward cleaning and rebuilding drainage systems, a critical step in a province that frequently suffers from waterlogging and poor sanitation during monsoon seasons. Still, residents in several districts have voiced concern that major drainage issues remain unaddressed, especially in low-income areas.

Though these actions represent some movement in the right direction, many view them as reactionary rather than proactive. Several civic groups have criticized the ruling administration, stating that basic public works should not require Ombudsman intervention to be addressed. They argue that it reflects poorly on the government’s priorities when such fundamental tasks are only acted upon following formal complaints.

As Pakistan’s largest province by population, Punjab’s infrastructure challenges are significant, but so is the responsibility to govern effectively. Whether this recent spate of civic work marks a genuine shift toward better public service, or merely a politically motivated patch-up job, remains to be seen.