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Khawaja Asif Exposes Poor Quality of World Bank-Funded Road Project in Sialkot
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif slams poor quality of PICIIP project in Sialkot, shares video showing potholes on Khadim Ali Road. Says contractor is “too powerful to be held accountable.”
ND
by News Desk
2025-08-30
Khawaja Asif Exposes Poor Quality of World Bank-Funded Road Project in Sialkot

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has strongly criticized the poor quality of work on a major World Bank-funded development project in his hometown of Sialkot.

Sharing a video on social media, the minister highlighted large potholes on Khadim Ali Road, which falls under the Punjab Intermediate Cities Improvement Investment Program (PICIIP). The project, funded by a World Bank loan worth hundreds of millions of dollars, has been ongoing in Sialkot and Sahiwal for several years.

In his statement, Khawaja Asif said that the contractor responsible for the work laid pipes under the road, but the poor construction left the surface in a deteriorated state. He further pointed out that although a disposal facility had been constructed outside the city, the system is not yet functional.

“The contractor is powerful and also a member of our parliament,” Khawaja Asif alleged. “There is no end to his wealth, and it seems unlikely that anyone will hold him accountable. Since this is my constituency, it is my duty to raise my voice.”

The Defense Minister reminded that just a few days earlier, he had also warned of widespread corruption in the construction of roads and bridges, describing them as “a disaster.”

His remarks have fueled fresh debate about transparency, oversight, and accountability in large-scale development projects financed through international loans.
Tagged:

sialkot

WorldBank

KhawajaAsif

PICIIP
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