The Islamabad High Court has given the federal government one month to arrange the funds required for construction of the Bhong Interchange on the Multan-Sukkur Motorway (M-5). The court order was reported on Saturday.
Justice Muhammad Asif heard the case. It was brought as a petition seeking implementation of an earlier Supreme Court judgment on the interchange project. The court directed the relevant authorities to act in line with the apex court’s directions.
Court hears petition over funding delay
During the hearing, officials from the Planning Ministry told the court that Rs100 million had already been released under an earlier order. They asked for more time to arrange the remaining amount. The officials proposed that the rest of the funds be released by the second quarter.
The Additional Secretary for Planning assured the court that approval would be granted within 15 days. The Assistant Attorney General requested additional time on behalf of the federal government. The court accepted the request, but fixed a one-month deadline for the funds to be arranged. The hearing was adjourned until the following month.
Rs1.7 billion still required
The petitioner’s counsel told the court that the project still needs around Rs1.7 billion. He urged the authorities to release payments to the contractor so that construction can move ahead.
The court observed that the contractor must be paid, because the work cannot progress without the release of funds. The case has already faced repeated delays, despite earlier directions for its completion within the prescribed period. The long wait for funding has slowed progress on the interchange.
Contractor carried on with own resources
The petitioner’s lawyer said the contractor had already completed work worth about Rs350 million using its own resources while waiting for government funding. The point was placed before the court to show that the project has stalled through no fault of the company doing the work.
The Bhong Interchange is planned on the M-5 motorway to improve road access for the surrounding area in southern Punjab. The continuing funding delay shows how slow budget releases can stall public infrastructure projects. Even when construction has progressed, a shortage of funds can leave contractors unpaid and hold back the benefits road users expect.
Courts step into public project disputes
The superior judiciary has weighed into administrative disputes of this kind before. Earlier this week, the Supreme Court barred the sending of absorbed traffic wardens back to district police after their absorption into a separate cadre. The Lahore High Court banned filming across court premises this week and warned of phone seizure for violations.
The Planning Ministry’s position in the Bhong case is being watched closely. The ministry is headed by Ahsan Iqbal, who recently ordered tighter price monitoring as inflation data showed a mixed picture. The court’s next review will test whether his ministry and the federal government meet the deadline they have been given.
What happens next
The case will be taken up again next month. The court will then check whether the ministries have arranged the outstanding funding within the time allowed. For now, the fate of the Bhong Interchange rests on the federal government releasing the roughly Rs1.7 billion still needed for the project.
Frequently asked questions
Which project is the court’s order about?
The Bhong Interchange on the Multan-Sukkur Motorway (M-5). The Islamabad High Court has given the federal government one month to arrange the funds needed for its construction.
How much money is still needed for the Bhong Interchange?
Around Rs1.7 billion, according to the petitioner’s counsel. Rs100 million had already been released under an earlier order, but the bulk of the amount is still pending.
Why did the Islamabad High Court step in?
A petition sought implementation of an earlier Supreme Court judgment on the interchange. The court observed that the contractor must be paid for construction to continue, after the contractor completed about Rs350 million of work with its own resources.
When will the case be heard again?
The hearing was adjourned until the following month. The court will then review whether the required funds have been arranged.
Sources: Infra News, IHC Gives One Month to Arrange Funds for Bhong Interchange Project
