Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday laid the foundation stone of the Shaheen Chowk Underpass Project, a key infrastructure initiative aimed at resolving chronic traffic congestion in Pakistan’s capital city.
Located at the busy intersection of 9th Avenue and Khayaban-e-Iqbal, Shaheen Chowk experiences thousands of vehicles passing through daily. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) will finance and execute the project, while NESPAK serves as the consultant.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the project represents an important step toward permanently addressing traffic bottlenecks in Islamabad. “The underpass has been designed on a smaller scale so that the city’s natural beauty remains intact,” he noted.
Naqvi added that work on 11th Avenue has also commenced, while construction of the T-Chowk flyover is progressing rapidly and is expected to be inaugurated in December. He further announced that a new convention center, four times larger than the existing one and built to international standards, will break ground on January 1, with the Prime Minister officiating the ceremony.
In his address, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that multiple projects are underway to reduce traffic pressure across Islamabad and improve urban mobility. “The Shaheen Chowk Underpass is another important milestone toward eliminating traffic congestion,” he remarked, commending the CDA and the Interior Ministry for their swift execution and urban planning efforts.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of completing key projects ahead of the upcoming SCO Summit, which is expected to be held in Islamabad after nearly two years. “All development initiatives must be completed swiftly, efficiently, and to the highest standards in the national interest,” he directed.
Trans-Afghan Railway and the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul Railway Corridor
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif says that work is being done on the Trans-Afghan Railway and the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul Railway Corridor. Increased regional connectivity will revolutionize the economic and trade sector.
Addressing the closing session of the Regional Transport Ministers Conference, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that I welcome the participating delegates on behalf of the government and the people, changes are taking place in the transport and connectivity system at the global level. The Regional Transport Ministers Conference provided an important opportunity for discussion. The conference is important for the promotion of bilateral and regional connectivity.
The Prime Minister said that work is being done on the Trans-Afghan Railway, Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul Railway Corridor, the focus is on business connections, investment and shared prosperity, Pakistan is entering the second phase of the Economic Corridor project. Increased regional connectivity will revolutionize the economic and trade sector.
