The Punjab government is in partnership with Pakistan Railways, and it is gearing up to launch an ambitious Green Corridor Project along a 43-kilometre stretch of railway track from Shahdara to Raiwind in Lahore.
Spanning 700 kanals of adjacent land, this initiative aims not only to control pollution but also to reshape the city’s visual and social landscape.
Valued at over Rs 2.25 billion, the project is planned to be completed within one year. For a city struggling with smog, heat, and rapid urbanisation, the Green Corridor is being seen as a step towards sustainable, people-friendly development.
Long, dull stretches of railway lines are expected to turn into vibrant green belts, offering some much-needed breathing space in the concrete-heavy urban environment.
Huge transformation of old railway carriages into libraries and cafes
A particularly creative feature of the project is to make a huge transformation of old railway carriages and convert them into libraries and cafes. Instead of being scrapped, these historic carriages will get a second life as community spaces where the masses will get a chance to read, relax, and socialize.
This move blends heritage, culture, and modern urban design, making railway land useful not just for transport but also for recreation and learning.
To ensure better planning and execution, the project has been divided into four development packages:
• Shahdara to Railway Station
• Walton
• Walton to Kot Lakhpat
• Raiwind
Each stretch will be developed with tailored landscaping, plantation, and public-use features, keeping in view the local surroundings and population density.
The Housing Department of Punjab has already submitted the PC-1 of the project to the Planning and Development Department for formal approval, and this is a clear manifestation that the planning phase is at an advanced stage.
Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi has publicly said thanks to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for her support, noting that such coordinated efforts between the federal and provincial governments hold a huge importance for transforming underused railway land into
- Green
- Functional urban corridors
If executed as it is planned, the Green Corridor Project will set an example for eco-friendly urban development in Pakistan to minimize pollution, softening Lahore’s harsh skyline with greenery, and giving citizens new spaces to read, walk, sit, and connect.