Pakistan to host next SCO, says PM Shehbaz at T-Chowk Flyover groundbreaking ceremony 

Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday performed the groundbreaking of T-Chowk Flyover Project at Islamabad Expressway, terming it a milestone initiative for the residents of the twin cities, Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

During his remarks at the ceremony, the prime minister commended Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, the CDA chairman, and their respective teams for pursuing a project of such vital public importance.

He directed that quality should not be compromised at any stage and that the work should be delivered within the stipulated timeframe.

Highlighting Pakistan’s role as host of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit (SCO), he stressed the need to accelerate preparations, which include new accommodation facilities and enhancing the beauty of the capital. He also mentioned that saplings donated by Tajikistan are being planted as part of Islamabad’s greening drive.

Shehbaz Sharif further shared that the government was considering launching a rail car service for the twin cities, describing it as a potential gift to the public, and urged the authorities concerned to initiate the process promptly.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, while addressing the event, noted that although the expressway project had already been completed, its formal launch was linked with the finishing of the T-Chowk Flyover.

He praised CDA, NESPAK, and other stakeholders for adopting a design that avoided extra land purchases and saved Rs7 billion. He assured that the project would be concluded on schedule and in line with the prime minister’s instructions.

The venture carries a cost of Rs 1,495 million and has been given a completion timeline of 150 days, starting from September 12, 2025, with February 9, 2026, set as the deadline.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is executing the scheme through its own financial resources, and no land purchase has been required since the design utilizes already available space.

Officials briefing the prime minister pointed out that the Islamabad Expressway serves as the central traffic artery of the capital, linking Rawalpindi, Punjab, AJK, and the G.T. Road, while also supporting rapid urban growth.

The road has already been made signal-free from Zero Point to T-Chowk along a 26-kilometer stretch. However, T-Chowk at Rawat remains a heavily congested junction where nearly 100,000 vehicles pass daily. Once operational, the flyover is expected to handle around 41,572 vehicles per day.

The new structure will extend 1.034 kilometers in length and 11.30 meters in width, accompanied by street lighting and horticultural works to improve its efficiency and visual appeal.

Special monitoring teams have been assigned to oversee the process, with the prime minister emphasizing once again that quality must remain the foremost priority in this and all national development projects.