Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has officially launched a significant road infrastructure initiative that will connect Gujranwala, a strong base for the PML-N party, to the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway (LSM). This move comes ahead of the anticipated general elections in November of this year.
The Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) has been assigned by the government as the executing agency for this project. Their task is to complete the 15.2-kilometer link road within 90 days, with a budget of Rs 11 billion. The FWO has already commenced groundwork, having moved the necessary machinery to the project site.
The dual-carriage expressway will begin at Benazir Chowk, situated between Chan Da Qila and Morr Aimenabad along GT Road. It will connect to the LSM at Wahndo. As more land has been acquired for the project, the existing 20-foot-wide road will be expanded to 330 feet in width.
Imran Khalid Butt, a former PML-N MPA from Gujranwala city, confirmed that the federal government provided funding for the project, with the Punjab Communications and Works Department serving as the executing agency.
The groundbreaking ceremony, scheduled for July 16, will be attended by the Prime Minister, who will also address a public gathering in Gujranwala.
The local business community, including the Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and other associations, have long awaited this access to the M11. In 2021, the GCCI submitted an unsolicited proposal to the PTI-led Punjab government, suggesting a public-private partnership for the construction of the link road.
They agreed to invest Rs 6 billion in the project, with the additional cost of land acquisition to be provided by the provincial government.
However, due to procedural obstacles, the project could not be launched at that time. Shahbaz Sharif, during his tenure as the Chief Minister of Punjab, successfully completed significant infrastructure projects in record time.