Punjab Province

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan
The newly constructed Bhatti Chowk Underpass has been opened to traffic after being completed in four months, providing motorists with a new route aimed at easing chronic congestion around Data Darbar and Lahore’s densely populated Inner City.
According to the Punjab government, the project was undertaken to address long-standing traffic bottlenecks at Bhatti Chowk, an important junction used by large numbers of commuters, public transport vehicles and commercial traffic travelling through the historic parts of Lahore.
With the underpass now operational, vehicles can move through the area without facing some of the delays previously caused by heavy traffic at the junction. The government says the project is expected to improve overall traffic circulation around Data Darbar and adjoining roads.
Bhatti Chowk serves as a major gateway to several parts of Lahore’s historic core and regularly experiences significant traffic pressure. Congestion in the area has traditionally resulted in longer travel times, particularly during peak hours and periods of increased activity around Data Darbar.
The Punjab government said the underpass has significantly reduced the time required to cross the congested section. According to a citizen quoted following the opening, travelling through the area previously took around 10 to 15 minutes, while the same journey can now be completed in approximately two to three minutes.
The reduction in travel time is expected to benefit not only private motorists but also public transport operators, commercial vehicles and commuters who regularly travel through the area.
Citizens and transporters have welcomed the opening of the underpass, particularly its completion within a relatively short construction period. The project was completed in four months and has now been made fully available for vehicular traffic.
The Punjab government described the scheme as part of its broader efforts to improve urban mobility and public infrastructure in Lahore. It said the project was completed in line with the public-service vision of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Beyond reducing congestion at Bhatti Chowk itself, improved movement through the junction could also help ease traffic pressure on surrounding roads by reducing queues and delays at a key inner-city intersection.
The opening adds another major traffic infrastructure facility to Lahore at a time when the provincial government is undertaking a number of road improvement, remodelling and traffic management projects across the city.
With the Bhatti Chowk Underpass now open, authorities expect smoother movement through the Data Darbar area and shorter journey times for thousands of commuters using the route daily.

Rawalpindi : ReNews Pakistan
The feasibility study for Phase-II of the Rawalpindi Ring Road has been completed, with NESPAK identifying the expansion of the existing M-2 motorway corridor between Thallian and Hakla Interchange as the most feasible and least expensive of three proposed options.
Under the preferred alignment, the existing motorway section from Thallian to Hakla Interchange, which forms part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor route, would be widened from three lanes to five lanes in each direction.
The proposed widening would cover approximately 15.3 kilometres and is estimated to cost around Rs 9 billion, significantly lower than the two alternative alignments examined during the feasibility process.
The second option proposes construction of an additional 19.5 kilometre route at an estimated cost of Rs18 billion, while the third option involves a 26.5 kilometre alignment on the western side of the motorway with a projected cost of around Rs 24 billion.
The assessment therefore places the first option at a clear cost advantage, while also allowing planners to use an existing major transport corridor instead of constructing an entirely new route.
The completion of the feasibility study represents an important step towards determining the future extension of the Rawalpindi Ring Road and improving connectivity between Thallian and Hakla. However, the preferred option will still require approval from the relevant authorities before implementation can begin.
Meanwhile, substantial progress has already been made on Phase-I of the project, which stretches approximately 38.3 kilometres from GT Road at Banth Mor to Thallian Interchange.
The main carriageway of Phase-I has largely been completed, while four of its five interchanges — Banth, Chakbeli Khan, Adiala and Chakri — have also been completed.
Work is continuing on the fifth interchange at Thallian after its design was expanded to provide broader connectivity. Despite the remaining work at the interchange, the Ring Road has already been connected with the motorway network.
Construction of toll plazas and installation of the tolling system are now among the major outstanding components of Phase-I.
Once the remaining toll-related infrastructure is completed, the project is expected to be transferred from the Project Management Unit to the Punjab Ring Road Authority, which will assume responsibility for its operation and management.
The Ring Road project has faced several revisions to its completion and inauguration schedule. August 14, 2026, had most recently been indicated as the expected inauguration date, but the opening did not take place because the tolling infrastructure had not yet been completed.
A service area established along the Ring Road, which had previously attracted controversy, has also been removed from the project route.
The proposed Phase-II extension is considered important for strengthening regional road connectivity by providing a more efficient link between the completed Ring Road corridor and the Hakla Interchange on the motorway network.
If the Rs 9 billion widening option receives final approval, the project would add two lanes in each direction along the 15.3 kilometre Thallian/Hakla section, potentially increasing traffic capacity while avoiding the substantially higher costs associated with constructing the two alternative routes.
The final alignment, funding mechanism and implementation schedule will depend on subsequent government approvals and decisions by the relevant project authorities.

Multan : ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has directed authorities to ensure effective implementation of the Multan Master Plan in order to manage the city’s rapidly growing population and expanding built-up areas. Under the plan, future residential, commercial and other development will be guided by established town planning principles.
The directive was issued during a meeting chaired by Punjab Housing Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal, where progress on ongoing development schemes in Multan, town planning matters and issues related to the Water and Sanitation Agency were reviewed in detail.
Additional Director General of the Multan Development Authority Ataul Haq Khokhar briefed the meeting on development projects being carried out by the MDA. Following the briefing, the housing secretary instructed officials to ensure implementation of the Multan Master Plan under all circumstances.
The Multan Development Authority is a key institution responsible for the city’s planned growth, development of new housing schemes and expansion of urban infrastructure. Its jurisdiction covers approximately 362 square kilometres. According to official information, the MDA has previously completed several residential and development schemes, including Shah Rukn-e-Alam, Lodhi Colony, New Qasimpur, Tughlaq Town and New Shah Shams.
The importance of implementing the Multan Master Plan has increased as the city continues to experience population growth and rising construction activity. Official records put Multan’s population at around 5.36 million, while long-term master planning for WASA has also been undertaken for the period from 2014 to 2040, covering improvements to existing water supply and sewerage systems as well as the extension of services to newly developed areas.
Under the Punjab government’s master land-use planning framework, master plans are intended to curb unplanned urban sprawl, regulate the allocation of land for residential, commercial and other uses, reduce traffic pressure, protect open spaces and identify future requirements for infrastructure and basic civic services.
Against this backdrop, effective implementation of the Multan Master Plan will require more than land-use mapping alone. It will also need to guide decisions related to new housing schemes, commercial construction, roads, traffic management, water supply, sewerage and other urban services so that the city’s expansion remains planned and does not contribute to worsening encroachments, congestion, infrastructure shortages and unregulated development.