Islamabad: The federal government is planning to introduce a two-year development roadmap for the capital under the name Vision 2027, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday inaugurated the Allama Iqbal Flyover at T-Chowk.
The prime minister opened the flyover to traffic 96 days after laying its foundation stone. The project, constructed at a cost of Rs1.4 billion under the PC-I, was completed ahead of its February 19 deadline. Officials said the cost rose by 15 percent due to changes in the scope of work.
The 1.1-kilometre flyover has been built at the intersection of GT Road and the Islamabad Expressway to improve traffic flow and ease congestion. With its completion, the expressway has become signal-free from Faisal Mosque to GT Road.
Addressing the ceremony, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa, contractors and officials for completing the project within a short timeframe while maintaining quality standards. He said several road development projects launched over the past one and a half years had significantly benefited commuters and transporters.
The prime minister also appreciated the anti-encroachment drive carried out by the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation and district administration, calling illegal constructions a long-standing problem that hampers urban planning if left unchecked.
Earlier, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the project was completed with a focus on cost efficiency, quality and timely delivery. He announced that service roads along the Islamabad Expressway would be constructed to accommodate light traffic, noting that existing service roads between Faizabad and Koral Chowk were in poor condition.
Mr Naqvi also informed the prime minister that work on the Shaheen Chowk underpass was nearing completion and that it would soon be ready for inauguration. He further announced the launch of Islamabad Vision 2027, saying the two-year initiative would transform the capital through a series of development projects.
The interior minister also addressed the issue of water shortages in Islamabad, assuring lawmakers present at the event that the matter would be tackled on a priority basis. He said a task force was already working on solutions to the city’s growing water scarcity.
Islamabad currently faces a significant water shortfall, with the Capital Development Authority supplying around 70 million gallons per day against a demand exceeding 280 million gallons per day. Water is sourced from Simly Dam, Khanpur Dam and tubewells, while rural areas depend largely on bore water and small schemes managed by the district administration.
Official documents show a supply gap of more than 175 million gallons per day, including distribution losses. Several past proposals, such as the Chinot Dam, Shahdara Dam and Ghazi Barotha projects, were announced to address the issue but were not implemented. Mr Naqvi said steps would now be taken to resolve the long-standing problem.
The ceremony was attended by federal ministers, parliamentarians and senior government officials, including Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi and State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry.
