Maryam Nawaz Leads Province’s Largest Development Drive
LAHORE – Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz called the Punjab Road Infrastructure Project the largest developmental project in the history of the province to date. Specifically the development plan consists of constructing, widening and rehabilitating roads in 1,471 routes covering a total of 18,700 kilometers.
In a high-level meeting with the Communication and Works (C&W) Department, the Chief Minister showed that she thoroughly assessed detailed progress reports related to road works and buildings. C&W officials advised that the provincial government had already completed 12,000 kilometers of roadworks in total for 1,214 routes. Most importantly, the provincial government reported that all works for the project are expected to be completed by December 2025.
Cost-Efficiency and Strategic Financial Management
Moreover, officials emphasized that 97% of the allocated funds have been utilized effectively. Thanks to enhanced construction oversight and improved management, the province successfully delivered infrastructure worth Rs600 billion at a significantly reduced cost of Rs70 billion.
In addition, Punjab achieved a 20% average reduction in contract costs—a first in the province’s infrastructure history. This financial milestone highlights a shift towards smarter governance and transparency.
Meanwhile, the provincial government is transitioning from the outdated contractor model to a digital toll collection system. This modernization effort is expected to streamline revenue collection and reduce inefficiencies. So far, 29 routes have been identified for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects, with agreements already finalized for nine of them.
Building and Industrial Projects Accelerate
Beyond roads, the province has completed 1,193 building projects, including:
- Phase one of healthcare center upgrades
- Construction of Samanabad General Hospital and Sahiwal Teaching Hospital
- Creation of agri-malls in four major cities
Industrial development has also progressed, with near-completion of the Garment City in Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Park and PCCI-III projects in Multan, Bahawalpur, and Sargodha.
Tech-Driven Monitoring and Major Road Links Approved
To ensure quality, Punjab deployed cutting-edge monitoring tools like Ground Penetration Radars, Road Surface Profilers, and Fast Falling Weight Deflectometers.
Ongoing and approved road projects include:
- Quaid-e-Azam to Wagah Tourism Corridor
- Adiala Overhead Bridge
- GPO Mall Underpass, Kartarpur Corridor
- Multan–Vehari Dual Carriageway, Faisalabad–Chiniot Road
- Layyah–Bhakkar–M3 and M4 Link Expressways
Future Outlook: 313 New Projects Worth Rs255 Billion
The Punjab government has approved an estimated 313 infrastructure projects worth Rs255 billion in the next fiscal year and is signalling ongoing commitment to invest in long-term growth.
District-Wise Road Development Progress
The massive road network expansion is active across:
- North Punjab: Jhelum, Attock, Sargodha, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Gujrat
- Central Punjab: Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad
- South Punjab: DG Khan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur
- Other Cities: Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Vehari, Lodhran, Chiniot, Okara, Nankana Sahib
CM Maryam Nawaz Praises Team, Sets Completion Goal
CM Maryam Nawaz stated:
“We are not just laying asphalt—we’re delivering quality with cutting-edge technology. Roads left untouched for decades are now being rebuilt.”
She praised Minister Sohaib Bharth and Secretary Sohail Ashraf for their leadership and directed that all current projects must be completed within the current fiscal year.
