rki.news
Altaf Hamid Rao

MIRPUR (AJK): April 4 – Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan, and SAFRON, Engr. Amir Muqam, on Saturday inspected the under-construction Rathua Haryam Bridge, South Asia’s largest bridge over Mangla Dam, a project costing over Rs. 10 billion. The bridge, part of the Mangla Dam Raising Project, is set to open for all traffic next month, official sources said.
Project Director Rathua Haryam Bridge, Engineer Inam-ul-Haq, briefed Engr. Amir Muqam on the pace of construction, noting that the project had remained pending for the past 20 years. The federal minister inspected the bridge both on foot and in a vehicle, reviewing progress including the connection of both ends, which will link Mirpur city to adjoining Islamgarh town, reducing the distance by over 25 kilometers.
Engr. Amir Muqam lauded the performance of the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) and the construction firm involved. He congratulated the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, especially Mirpur residents, on behalf of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and thanked Allah for the project’s completion, which had been delayed due to alleged previous government negligence.
Speaking on the occasion, Engr. Amir Muqam said Prime Minister Sharif initiated the project in April last year and it will be inaugurated in May. He highlighted Mangla Dam’s significance for Pakistan’s economic and social development and emphasized the FWO’s crucial role in completing the project under challenging conditions.
Project Director Inam-ul-Haq informed Engr. Amir Muqam that both ends of the bridge are complete, with rapid progress on road and bridge renovations in Mirpur and Islamgarh. The project, originally scheduled for March 2027, saw the bridge portion finished in March 2026. Upon completion, travel distance between Mirpur and Islamgarh will drop from 30 kilometers to 7 kilometers, significantly saving time and fuel for residents across Azad Kashmir, including Kotli, Samahni, Chakswari, Dadial, and surrounding districts.
The inspection was attended by PML-N AJK leadership, former ministers Chaudhry Tariq Farooq, Chaudhry Muhammad Saeed, Chaudhry Rukhsar Ahmed, Chaudhry Masood Khalid, Colonel (retd) Muhammad Maroof Khan, Additional Chief Secretary Development Atif Khan, Secretary Works Khawaja Muhammad Naeem Bismil, Commissioner Mirpur Division Raja Tahir Mumtaz Khan, Deputy Commissioner Chaudhry Sajid Hussain, SSP Khurram Iqbal, Deputy Director Rathua Haryam Bridge Muhammad Irfan, Nazir Inqilabi, and FWO engineers.
The completion of Rathua Haryam Bridge marks a landmark achievement for Pakistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir, boosting infrastructure connectivity, facilitating economic activity, and providing a vital link for millions of people across the region.