New Lahore-Pindi Motorway to Cut Travel by 100km

Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan has announced that a new motorway connecting Lahore and Rawalpindi is planned for completion by the end of 2027, and that the foundation stone of the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway is expected to be laid next month. He was addressing the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Saturday, October 24.

Lahore-Rawalpindi Motorway

• It will be an alternative to the M-2 and cut the distance from about 380km to 280km, a saving of 100km.

• Travel time between Lahore and Islamabad could fall from around three and a half hours to two and a half hours.

• It will connect Gujranwala, Gujrat, Lalamusa, Kharian and Jhelum.

Other Projects

• Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway: Three sections have been approved.

• Faisalabad-Pindi Bhattian Motorway: To be expanded to six lanes within three months, with a link road to the M-2 funded by the NHA at up to Rs16 billion.

• Lahore-Sialkot Motorway: To be expanded from four to six lanes, with the additional Rs10 billion arranged from NHA savings.

• Murree Expressway: To be extended towards Muzaffarabad to improve connectivity and tourism.

• Multan-Lodhran road: To be completed this year.

NHA Finances

Khan said Communications Ministry revenue rose from Rs66 billion to Rs166 billion in about two and a half years, and that expenditure has been cut from Rs64 billion to Rs50 billion so more funds go to new roads. He said 66 projects have been initiated under the PSDP and that around 70% of current NHA revenue is being invested in Balochistan. His long-term vision is an NHA able to generate Rs1 trillion in revenue.