In a major boost for road infrastructure and regional connectivity, Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan has announced a transformative upgrade of the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway, with plans to extend it from Kharian to Islamabad.
This extension, along with widening the existing road from four to six lanes, is set to reduce the Lahore–Islamabad travel distance by around 100 kilometers—and cut journey time by nearly an hour.
This isn’t just about saving time—it’s about relieving pressure on the overburdened M-2, easing traffic congestion, and offering commuters a
- Smoother
- Faster
- Safer route
Millions of travellers will benefit
The move is anticipated to benefit millions of travelers, especially those commuting daily for work, education, or trade between major cities and towns like
- Gujranwala
- Gujrat
- Kharian
- Jhelum
- Gujar Khan
For people like Hassan, a medical representative who travels between Gujrat and Islamabad weekly, the project is considered to be a ray of hope. “I spend 6 to 7 hours on the road every trip. This new link could mean more time with family and less money spent on fuel,” he says.
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Department is ready to prepare 30-year infrastructure roadmap
The declaration was made during a high-level meeting at the National Highway Authority (NHA) Punjab Region Office, where the minister has shown strong emphasis on quality and speed in project execution.
He kept on urging that the department to prepare a comprehensive 30-year infrastructure roadmap to ensure Pakistan’s road networks are future-ready.
One of the major agenda items was the urgent completion of development work along the Multan Road to Ring Road corridor, a vital artery for Lahore’s expanding traffic. The minister was clear: delays, negligence, or wrong construction will not be tolerated.
Also present were the Federal Secretary for Communications, NHA Chairman, and the CEO of RUDA, who shared updates on other infrastructure initiatives across Punjab.
Strong vision for connected, and traveler-friendly Pakistan
This upgrade is more than concrete and asphalt—it is strongly depicting a vision for a more connected, efficient, and traveler-friendly Pakistan, where infrastructure works in service of people’s lives, not the other way around.