ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday inaugurated the Kashmir Chowk underpass, a Rs1.45 billion project completed in 27 days, saying its timely execution demonstrated the government’s preparedness for next year’s Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit and other major international events in the federal capital.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the prime minister said the project had been awarded through the e-PADS transparent procurement system at a cost approximately 2.5 per cent below the estimated amount.
He congratulated Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and their teams on completing the project within the stipulated timeframe, describing it as an example of transparency, responsibility and teamwork.
Shehbaz said the government was working to improve Islamabad’s infrastructure, traffic management and overall appearance ahead of the SCO summit and other international events scheduled to take place in the capital next year.
“The completion of this project in such a short time shows that the team has demonstrated its readiness for the SCO and other events that will be held in Islamabad next year,” he said.
The prime minister said thousands of new plants had been added around the project, while two monuments reflecting Kashmir’s identity had also been constructed.
He said improving traffic flow and making the capital greener and more attractive were among the government’s responsibilities, adding that work was under way on several projects to bring Islamabad up to international standards.
Shehbaz said the government wanted to secure Pakistan a prominent place among the nations of the world. Acknowledging that the task was difficult, he said it was not impossible if the country continued to move forward with the same pace and collective effort.
The underpass is expected to improve traffic movement between Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The prime minister had laid the foundation stone of the project on October 6, 2026.
Speaking at the ceremony, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the government planned to establish Asia’s largest safari park in Islamabad and had hired an international consultant for the project.
He also announced that work on the restoration of One Constitution Avenue would begin the following day, adding that Prime Minister Shehbaz had assured him of full cooperation.
Naqvi said the federal cabinet had approved the joint investigation team’s report on One Constitution Avenue and that a property worth billions of rupees had been recovered for the CDA.
Regarding the Kashmir Chowk project, the interior minister said it had been completed in 27 days without compromising construction standards. He said 6,340 new trees had been planted as part of the project, while existing trees had been protected or relocated during construction.
He added that the underpass would help ease traffic congestion and contribute to Islamabad’s development as a greener and more attractive city.
