Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday unveiled the Narowal-Muridke Road Phase II, a 75km-long project strengthening road connectivity between key districts.
Addressing a public gathering in Narowal, which is Iqbal’s home constituency, he said the road project was part of a broader effort to modernize Punjab’s road network, improving transportation for businesses, farmers, and commuters. He noted the 36km-long Narowal-Shakargarh Road had already been completed at a cost of Rs. 1.6 billion, and was linking cities and facilitating trade and commerce.
Additionally, said Iqbal, the first phase of the Narowal-Muridke Road was completed for Rs. 500 million, demonstrating the government’s commitment to phased and sustainable development. Overall, the government has earmarked Rs. 28 billion for the construction and rehabilitation of various roads across Narowal.
During his address, the minister also announced the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway Link Road, a major infrastructure project aiming at enhancing regional connectivity and improving accessibility to economic hubs. He emphasized that such projects reflect the government’s vision of an integrated and efficient transport network, crucial for boosting trade and industrial activities.
Iqbal emphasized that Narowal, once a district with limited infrastructure and higher education opportunities, has now emerged as a center of knowledge and progress due to strategic investments in roads, healthcare, and educational facilities.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to ensuring every region benefits from sustainable development, he said the government was prioritizing Narowal’s uplift as its people had long demonstrated their dedication to national progress. He expressed confidence the announced projects would not only enhance the quality of life for residents but also contribute to economic growth, connectivity, and social development.
According to the minister, the government has also prioritized the establishment of higher learning institutions in Narowal, with the foundation for Narowal Medical College already laid. The college, he said, would be completed within two years at a cost of Rs. 4.4 billion, benefiting local students and attracting talent from across Punjab.
The government, said Iqbal, has also initiated development of the Narowal Children’s Learning Park, with an aim to complete it within two years for Rs. 100 million. This reflects the government’s dedication to investing in future generations through state-of-the-art educational and recreational facilities, he said. The Narowal Circular Road project, worth Rs. 1 billion, is also in the pipeline and would significantly improve urban mobility and infrastructure in the district, he added.
During his speech, the minister regretted that Pakistan’s economic growth had suffered from 2018-2022, hampering development. The incumbent government, he said, aimed to reverse this.
Outlining the government’s broader achievements in infrastructure and economic growth, Iqbal reiterated that Pakistan’s motorway network expansion, construction of modern airports, elimination of power shortages, and efforts in combating terrorism were part of a strategy to build a resilient and prosperous nation. He particularly emphasized the role of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in transforming the country’s economic landscape by attracting foreign investment and creating new job opportunities.