Punjab embarks on massive 18,700-km road improvement initiative

Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has described the ongoing road development and rehabilitation project as the largest in the province's history, with 18,700 kilometers of roads being constructed, widened, or repaired across 1,471 routes.

Addressing a special meeting to review the performance of the Communication and Works (C&W) Department, the chief minister was presented a comprehensive progress report on road and building projects. So far, 12,000 kilometers of roads covering 1,214 routes have been completed, with the full project expected to conclude by December.

The province has recorded an impressive 97% utilization of allocated funds for road infrastructure, with road development worth Rs600 billion executed at a cost of only Rs70 billion through efficient construction management.

For the first time, a significant 20% reduction in average contract costs has been achieved. The Punjab government also agreed to replace the traditional contractor system with a digital toll collection model and identified 29 roads for Public-Private Partnership (PPP), with immediate agreement on nine routes to be operated jointly with private stakeholders.

In terms of buildings, 1,193 projects have been completed, including the first phase of renovation work at health centers, construction of Samanabad General Hospital, Sahiwal Teaching Hospital, and agri-mall projects in four cities. Additionally, major development schemes like the Garment City at Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Park and projects under PCCI-III in Multan, Bahawalpur, and Sargodha have been completed or are nearing completion.

To ensure construction quality, cutting-edge technology such as Road Surface Profilers, Ground Penetration Radars, and Fast Falling Weight Deflectometers have been deployed to inspect newly built roads.

Key projects under review included the Quaid-e-Azam to Wahga Tourism Corridor, Adiala Overhead Bridge, GPO Mall Underpass, Kartarpur Corridor, Multan-Vehari Additional Carriageway, and Faisalabad-Chiniot Road. The CM also approved new expressway projects including Layyah–Bhakkar–M3 and M4, among others.

Under the upcoming fiscal plan, 313 new schemes worth Rs255 billion will be launched across Punjab. District-level progress has also been significant:

North Punjab: Jhelum (190 km), Attock (340 km), Sargodha (860 km), Mianwali (220 km), Bhakkar (570 km), Gujrat (360 km)

Central Punjab: Mandi Bahauddin (230 km), Hafizabad (120 km), Gujranwala (390 km), Sialkot (230 km), Lahore (40 km)

Southern Punjab: Bahawalpur (620 km), Bahawalnagar (450 km), Rahim Yar Khan (670 km), Rajanpur (250 km), DG Khan (605 km), Muzaffargarh (610 km)

Other key cities: Faisalabad (620 km), Jhang (370 km), Chiniot (180 km), Okara (330 km), Lodhran (140 km), Khanewal (400 km), Vehari (270 km), Sahiwal (280 km), Pakpattan (210 km), Sheikhupura (160 km), Nankana Sahib (190 km), Narowal (200 km)

CM Maryam Nawaz stated, \"Roads that weren't built in the last 30 years are now under construction. This is not just about roads, but about ensuring quality through state-of-the-art machinery. The people and their elected representatives are pleased with this progress.\"

She also commended Provincial Minister Sohaib Bharth and Secretary C&W Sohail Ashraf for their outstanding work.

The CM directed that all ongoing road projects be completed within the current fiscal year.