In a major push to improve travel and trade routes, the federal government has approved two major motorway projects in Punjab aimed at enhancing regional connectivity and easing traffic between key cities.
The approval came during the 39th meeting of the Public Private Partnership Authority (P3A), chaired by Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal. The projects are part of a broader effort to modernize Pakistan’s infrastructure through public-private partnerships.
First, the board gave the green light to the Sialkot–Kharian Motorway, a 69-kilometer route that will be upgraded to a six-lane highway. This project follows recommendations from the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and is seen as a critical step to boost industrial development and regional mobility.
The second project is even more ambitious — a 117.6-kilometer greenfield motorway connecting Kharian to Rawalpindi. This expressway will also be six lanes wide and built under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, with a total investment of Rs202.61 billion, including Rs40 billion in Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to attract private investors.
The government plans to award the contract for the Kharian–Rawalpindi Motorway through international competitive bidding, aiming to bring in global expertise and efficiency.
Once completed, these motorways are expected to significantly cut travel time, improve road safety, and streamline cargo and passenger movement between central and northern Punjab — giving the local economy a much-needed boost.
