Assalamu Alaikum Pakistanis. I have seen many ups and downs in my 30 years of journalism. I have highlighted public issues and brought them to the offices of the rulers so that the nation gets benefits, and that was also my responsibility.
I faced many difficulties in advancing my journalistic career. I faced competition from very powerful circles, but I never neglected my responsibility and continued to highlight the problems of the nation.
Dear Pakistanis, in the last decade, the famous and renowned Capital Development Authority (CDA) has started many big projects in Islamabad, and one after another, all the other projects have been renovated many times after their completion, which has resulted in a lot of money being wasted of the nation and the country.
The list of all these projects is very long, but in the last few months, CDA completed the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Interchange in a record time of 84 days, which was quite commendable.
While the CDA received a lot of praise for the completion of the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Interchange, billions of rupees were also spent from the national treasury, which was undoubtedly a good thing because it was a public welfare project, but due to the delay in the winter rains of 2025 in Islamabad, the quality of the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Interchange could not be revealed and this is the reason why many parts of the bridge collapsed and sank into the ground just after the first rain after its inauguration.
Seeing this whole situation, I created a vlog on my YouTube channel to highlight this issue that the condition of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Interchange after the first short rain is very miserable. So what will be the result of this interchange in the upcoming monsoon rains? If the monsoon rains this year are at their full potential, will this bridge, whose condition is revealed in winter rain, be able to withstand the monsoon rains?
After my vlog went on air, the CDA management issued a clarification. After receiving the clarification, I thought that it would contain detailed answers to my questions and that we would know why the bridge is in this condition after just one rain. Now, I will share with you what was written in that clarification letter. Then, I will present my analysis.
The Context of CDA Clarification:
Islamabad, March 07, 2025: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has clarified a video Log (Vlog) by Mr. Shamshad Manghat at KHABRAINTV.NET aired on Utube on March 5, 2025 in which Dr. Ghulam Sarwar Sindhu participated as expert regarding “The Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Interchange” F-8, Islamabad and vehemently rejected video Log (Vlog) as the context used in the (Vlog) was premised on deliberate conjecturing and assumptions based on cherry picked surmises which are far from true facts and figures and ultimate aim is only to bring disrepute, discredit and to tarnish the image of CDA.
“The entire defaming, concocted, misleading and baseless Vlog is riddled with unadulterated malice based solely on vicious motives, malicious propaganda against CDA. It is also a worrisome fact that the standards of journalistic reporting were not properly adhered to by Mr. Shamshad Manghat that he even does not bother to seek the official viewpoint of CDA which is cogent and legal right of CDA to have its official point of view based on facts and figures in order to set the record straight.
The fact is that in recognition of the strong diplomatic and cultural ties between Pakistan and Turkiye, the interchange has been officially named after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, symbolizing the friendship and cooperation between the two nations.
“The Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Interchange” F-8, Islamabad is a major infrastructure project which is especially designed to enhance traffic flow and urban connectivity as the intersection previously relied on traffic signals, leading to severe congestion and long delays, particularly during peak hours, making it one of the busiest
crossings in the city. This transformative project has now been fully completed, significantly improving the quality of life for residents, commuters and businesses, making Islamabad’s road network more efficient, sustainable and future-ready. After its completion, an average 41,500 vehicles or more per day (VPD) will use this intersection, highlighting its critical role in the city’s transportation network and its connectivity to major government institutions. As one of the most significant infrastructural upgrades in recent years, the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Interchange, F-8 Islamabad, represents Islamabad’s transformation into a modern metropolis with a strong emphasis on efficient urban mobility.
Moreover, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has initiated the project to provide a grade-separated solution, ensuring uninterrupted traffic flow, reducing congestion, and lowering carbon emissions while enhancing road safety. The project consists of an underpass, a flyover, and allied at-grade road works, including loops and protected U-turns to improve traffic efficiency. The underpass was completed in a record time of 42 days, providing an immediate relief by significantly reducing travel time and congestion.
Furthermore, the flyover, with two legs (one along Jinnah Avenue and the other along Agha Shahi Avenue), was completed ahead of schedule in just 84 days, well before the 100-day target. The project features state-of-the-art engineering techniques to ensure durability, safety, and efficiency, incorporating modern materials and high construction standards.
The design also focuses on aesthetic enhancements, including landscaped green spaces, decorative lighting, and urban beautification, maintaining Islamabad’s reputation as a planned and visually appealing city. The project adheres to sustainable urban planning principles, with measures taken to minimize environmental impact, preserve greenery, and align with Islamabad’s natural charm. The CDA’s commitment to eco-friendly development is reflected in incorporating green belts and tree plantations, promoting environmental sustainability.
The spokesman reiterated that CDA will not come under any propaganda whatsoever about it’s transparent, fair and meritocratic workings and will continue to work to ease out the difficulties of all kind of commuters through extending state of art facilities to make Islamabad more beautiful with smoother and uninterrupted traffic flow, reducing travel time and transportation costs, enhanced safety for commuters, lower environmental pollution by cutting congestion and emissions, boosted economic activity by improving accessibility to commercial zones and support for urban expansion by strengthening Islamabad’s transportation infrastructure as per law please.
Media is requested to kindly avoid speculations, concocted, misleading and malicious propaganda against CDA and kindly obtain CDA official point of view before airing/publishing and news related to CDA in line with law and journalists ethics.
Dear Pakistanis, You have read the CDA clarification note. It contains many detailed points. It mentions Pakistan’s partnerships with other countries. It mentions CDA’s aspirations. CDA has mentioned the environment in it. But in the paragraph, there is no explanation of why the bridge is in this condition after the first rain. Why were bulldozers and road carpeting machinery used again on the Interchange?
This clarification is not explained anywhere. And yes, as far as its last paragraph is concerned, it says that journalists should first know the CDA’s position and then give their opinion. So, do they answer our calls, or do they receive our calls? They have become kings. They consider themselves above from the Nation. So where else can we take their position except CDA?
And yes, you can give clarification on our vlog, but will you give clarification on what the Public Accounts Committee has said on the Barakhao interchange?
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