2016
With the establishment of Local Government in the Indian Sub-continent, a Military Board was created under Mr. Robert Napier in the year 1849 to execute all the public works in the territories of Punjab, the North-Western Frontier Province, and the adjoining areas. In 1854 all Civil, Military, and Public Engineering Works were placed under one department with Lord Robert Napier as its first Chief Engineer. A separate directorate of canals was also created. Later on, Public Works Departments were established in all the provinces and were placed under one central control. Keeping in view the increase in public works demand, the following three branches were established in 1866:
- Military Works Branch
- Civil Works Branch i/c Irrigation etc.
- Railways Branch
A modification to the administrative arrangements was made in 1869 and a separate Buildings and Roads (B & R) branch was created. In the B & R branch, the post of consulting Architect was created in January 1914.
The activities of the PWD continued to increase and various canals Circles, Public Health Circles, sanitation, and Water Supply Divisions and Circles were created keeping in view the demand and necessity of Civil Works.
On independence, the B & R was placed under the control of one Chief Engineer and Secretary to Government to deal with all the matters connected with communications, buildings of all kinds, sanitation, water works, and electrification of government buildings.
This system was changed in May 1962, when an administrative reorganization of all the government departments took place. The century-old system of a technical secretary interrupted in 1955 was now revived and the Communications & Works Department of the Government of West Pakistan came into being, with attached departments of B &R and Town Planning placed under its administrative control.
The Post of Provincial Chief Engineer, B & R was abolished and replaced by five Chief Engineers with full technical powers, each in charge of the respective region.
The following B & R organizations also functioned under the direct administrative control of the Communications & Works Department:
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