Sixteen-year-old Irfan Ali is a first-year student. He is a resident of Bucheki, a suburb of Nankana Sahib district. Every day, he has to cover a distance of 40 kilometres to commute to his college in Jaranwala, which is quite challenging for him.

Irfan Ali's issue is not just the long journey. He explains that very few buses run from Bucheki to Jaranwala in the morning, and sometimes, when the rush is high, there is not enough space on the vehicles, making it impossible for him to reach college. And if there is a delay in the bus's arrival, he is forced to return home.

Irfan Ali's father, Saleem Ali, sells vegetables, and he supports a family of eight members through the income earned. Making ends meet is a constant struggle, and affording education for his son in a private college is out of the question. He cannot bear the additional expense of a separate mode of transportation for Irfan either.

Irfan Ali mentions that if there was a college in Bucheki, he wouldn't have to face daily difficulties. If the fifth part of the total amount spent on the motorway interchange had been invested in education here, then two colleges could have been easily established.

The government has approved constructing interchanges in three locations to connect Nankana Sahib and the surrounding rural areas with the motorway. A substantial sum of four billion and twenty-six crore rupees has been allocated for this purpose. On this, the local people are not satisfied with the project planners and local politicians.

The first interchange, the Rana Mansab Ali Kharral Interchange, was approved for Bucheki on the Nankana Sahib Road. One billion, thirty-three crore, and twenty lakh rupees have been allocated for it.

The second interchange is being constructed near Taree Garh, close to Ada Mangtanwala, for one billion, fifty-nine crore, and sixty lakh rupees. The third interchange near Sherqapur is estimated to cost one billion, thirty-three crore, and twenty lakh rupees.

Before the approval of these three projects, people used the Khayara Kalan interchange on the motorway to travel from Nankana Sahib, Warburton, and Bucheki. The distance from Nankana Sahib to Khayara Kalan interchange is 10 kilometres, Bucheki to Khayara Kalan is 12 kilometres, and Warburton to Khayara Kalan is 28 kilometres.

The new interchange for Bucheki has been approved with the efforts of former National Assembly member Dr. Shazra Mansab.

Social worker Faisal Ijaz explains that the distance from Bucheki to the new interchange is eight kilometres, whereas the existing Khayara Kalan interchange is 14 kilometres away. Therefore, this project has been approved by politicians to increase their voter base, at the cost of wasting billions from the national treasury.

He says that Bucheki has a total population of 276,391 people. Despite such a large population, the area lacks many basic amenities. More than three hundred students graduate from here yearly, but no government college in the area can cater to their needs.

Faisal Ijaz explains that Dr. Shazra Mansab had promised to establish a boys' degree college in Bucheki before the elections. However, when her party came into power, she did not fulfil her promise to the people.

He further states that most areas in Bucheki city lack gas supply, clean drinking water, and recreational parks. Despite these pressing needs, the priority has been given to constructing interchanges.

Former National Assembly Member Dr. Shazra Mansab acknowledges that she had made efforts to approve several projects for Bucheki, including a boys' degree college. However, she received funding only for the interchange. She expresses regret that the funds for the college were not approved, but she promises to fulfil that commitment if given the opportunity in the future.

The story of the new interchange near Taree Garh, located 14 kilometres from Warburton in Nankana, is not much different. This project was approved for the residents of Warburton by former National Assembly member Chaudhry Barjis Tahir.

The residents of Warburton are also deprived of many amenities, and they are not particularly pleased with this interchange.

Chaudhry Latif Danish, President of the Petroleum Association, states that Warburton has a population of over 50,000 people. However, there is no government college or sports field for the children here. Former MNA Chaudhry Burjis Tahir seems to have forgotten his promises of establishing a college, a sports complex, and a Rescue 1122 centre in the area.

He says that the Taree Garh interchange doesn't benefit the people of Warburton. The roads leading to it are in poor condition. Similarly, the security situation in Jislani and Fatah Darya is not good. People will not travel towards the motorway from there at night, and most will prefer to use the Khayara Kalan interchange.

The third interchange, located in the East Kharian Tehsil of Sheikhupura, is built to facilitate the transportation of vehicles from Mandi Faizabad and Sheikhupura to the East Kharian region and beyond. This project, like the other two interchanges, is also facing criticism.

Sahil Manzoor Gill, a resident of Mandi Faizabad, explains that the interchange in Kharian Tehsil is already 11 kilometres away from the village of East Kharian. Meanwhile, the distance from Mandi Faizabad to Sheikhupura and East Kharian is roughly the same. Therefore, constructing an interchange in East Kharian serves no purpose other than political gain.

He says that the Taree Garh interchange doesn't benefit the people of Warburton. The roads leading to it are in poor condition. Similarly, the security situation in Jislani and Fatah Darya is not good. People will not travel towards the motorway from there at night, and most will prefer to use the Khayara Kalan interchange.

The third interchange, located in the East Kharian Tehsil of Sheikhupura, is built to facilitate the transportation of vehicles from Mandi Faizabad and Sheikhupura to the East Kharian region and beyond. This project, like the other two interchanges, is also facing criticism.

Sahil Manzoor Gill, a resident of Mandi Faizabad, explains that the interchange in Kharian Tehsil is already 11 kilometres away from the village of East Kharian. Meanwhile, the distance from Mandi Faizabad to Sheikhupura and East Kharian is roughly the same. Therefore, constructing an interchange in East Kharian serves no purpose other than political gain.

Former National Assembly member and Federal Minister Chaudhry Burjis Tahir states that the railways department was essential for establishing a sports complex, recreational park, and boys' college in Warburton. However, obtaining approval for this took too long, so they decided to secure funds for the motorway interchange instead.

He further explains that their target after the interchange was to obtain approval for contact roads, but they couldn't find the time for it. He is confident that if they are successful in the upcoming elections, they will complete the pending projects on a priority basis.