The Abbottabad Interchange project has received fresh approval, with former federal minister and PML-N Provincial General Secretary Murtaza Javed Abbasi announcing that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to inaugurate the scheme soon. The project, originally announced by the Prime Minister in 2022 at Abbasi's request, had its tender issued in 2023.
Political Clarifications and Cost Escalation
Abbasi clarified that despite some political circles linking the project's progress to Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, the approval and tendering process had already been completed before Kundi's appointment, calling such claims misleading. He stated that Rs600 million had already been released for the project, while the cost of acquiring 119 kanals of land was initially estimated at Rs115 million. However, the District Administration later revised the land acquisition cost to Rs810 million, an increase of nearly 800 percent.
Review and Fresh Approval
Due to the significant cost escalation, the project was referred to the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) for review. Following consideration by the National Highway Authority's Departmental Development Committee, the scheme has now received fresh approval. Abbasi said construction work on the long-pending scheme is expected to begin soon, terming it a “gift” from the Prime Minister and the Pakistan Muslim League for the people of Abbottabad, Lower Tanawal, and parts of Mansehra and Haripur.
Political Claims and Credit
Political activity around the project has intensified at the district level, with both the Pakistan Muslim League and the Pakistan Peoples Party claiming credit for securing and releasing funds for the interchange. Leaders from both parties argue that their continuous efforts and political advocacy at the federal level played a key role in moving the project forward. They maintain that earlier groundwork, including efforts dating back to the motorway inauguration period, contributed to the current approval, and that the “fruit of those efforts” is now visible in the form of the revived project.
Residents Await Construction
The development has sparked a renewed debate in the district over political ownership of development schemes, even as residents await the commencement of long-delayed construction work. Abbasi credited his own sustained efforts for advancing the project and thanked the Prime Minister for its approval.
