Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has laid the foundation stones for two major projects in Islamabad, aiming to improve traffic in the city. The Serena Chowk on Khayaban-i-Suharwardi and the PTCL Chowk on 9th Avenue are expected to ease congestion significantly.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa briefed the Prime Minister on the timelines. They confirmed that the Serena Chowk project will be completed within 60 days, while the 9th Avenue project is set for completion in 100 days.
These new projects are part of development plans for Islamabad. A safari park is also in the pipeline, and two new five-star hotels are planned near Marriott, with plots available for auction.
Prime Minister Sharif acknowledged the contributions of the interior and information ministers, as well as the CDA, in preparing the city for recent international events. Delegates from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit appreciated the city’s beauty, a result of these beautification efforts.
The Serena Chowk project costs Rs. 4.2 billion and will include constructing three underpasses and additional loops. The 9th Avenue project, with a budget of Rs. 4.1 billion, will feature a new flyover, helping alleviate traffic bottlenecks.
In addition, the government plans to link Margalla Avenue with the motorway, reducing travel time between the President House and the motorway to just 15-20 minutes. The tallest building in South Asia is also in the planning stages for Islamabad.
Prime Minister Sharif sees these projects as the start of broader efforts to develop Islamabad, bringing greater prosperity and improved infrastructure to the city and its surrounding areas.
