PM announces Sialkot-Lahore expressway

E-Paper | March 10, 2026

SIALKOT: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, while addressing the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Sialkot on Saturday, announced plans for building a Sialkot-Lahore expressway.

"Progress has always been made in democratic times. In dictatorships, the country was pushed backward," the premier said, in reference to former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.

The premier also held a question and answer session with traders and businessmen present at the conference and addressed their concerns. He added that the whole country will benefit from investments in Sialkot.

PM Nawaz said he aims to eliminate power shortages in Pakistan. He added that in 1999, electricity was available in abundance.

"We are purchasing 4,000 megawatts of electricity from China, and creating 7,000 megawatts from ongoing projects," the premier said. He also said that planning for a reduction in electricity price is also under way.

While talking about the operation in Karachi, the premier explained that the operation is not against any organisations.

"The Karachi operation is against criminals only," PM Nawaz explained.

He further said that the government will only rest after gun-culture is eliminated from the country, adding that it is the government's responsibility to make Karachi and the rest of the country peaceful.

PM Nawaz shed a light on the improvement in Karachi's law and order situation, saying that incidents of heinous crimes like target killings and kidnappings have been curbed significantly. He added that reviving peace in Karachi will lead to a promotion of business activities in Pakistan.

PM Nawaz was received at the Sialkot airport by members of the national and provincial assemblies, said a report published on Radio Pakistan. He was accompanied by Minister of Defence, Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif.

The premier is also scheduled to meet businessmen and elected representatives during his visit.

PM Nawaz vows to eliminate terrorism in Pakistan

While addressing Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers in Sialkot, PM Nawaz pledged to eliminate terrorism and sectarianism in Pakistan at all costs, said a report published on Radio Pakistan.

The premier addressed workers at Khawaja Muhammad Asif's residence and reiterated that operation Zarb-i-Azb has dismantled terrorist networks in Pakistan. He added that soon sporadic terrorism incidents will be eliminated.

PM Nawaz vowed that the government will bring progress and prosperity to the country and will not disappoint the nation.

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atif

Mar 21, 2015 12:29pm

wish he could spare some funds for neelum jehlum hydro project always wrong priorities by NS

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muhammad

Mar 21, 2015 12:35pm

please Nawaz Sharif Spend money on School and Hospital Our Nation Need the most. Pakistani can drive and walk on the broken roads.

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Dr Siddiqui

Mar 21, 2015 12:36pm

Energy/power generation should be the top priority!

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Mar 21, 2015 12:39pm

Safety is the first preference Mr PM. Please make all feel secure...mainorities and majorities both

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Jawad

Mar 21, 2015 12:39pm

I have to admit He has done pretty impressive road work in Pakistan.

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citizen

Mar 21, 2015 12:46pm

I wonder if govt knows wat majority of Pakistani ppl want form the govt...

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Zahid

Mar 21, 2015 12:51pm

Well done Nawaz Sharif. Connectivity will increase business opportunities and job creation. Simultaneously continue the fight against all forms of terrorism whether urban or rural. Please same time target hydropower as that is the cheapest.

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Hammad

Mar 21, 2015 01:04pm

@muhammad New building of Medical college are also operational in Silkot now

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Antigua

Mar 21, 2015 01:15pm

@Jawad yup. While everything is crumbling at least we can look at the pretty roads and pretend to be happy for a second.

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irfan

Mar 21, 2015 01:19pm

We needed Motorway too and i think we deserved one but anything will do now at this point

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Matrix

Mar 21, 2015 01:29pm

Schools and Hospitals are provincial subjects., so stop asking Federal Representatives for these issues. NS is on the right track..

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Kamal Pasha.

Mar 21, 2015 01:34pm

He is only making expressways or Yellw Taxis or Metro buses. He never talks or spend money on health, education or social programms.how to care for the people.

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Rais

Mar 21, 2015 01:55pm

Need a motorway project in baluchistan

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Parvez

Mar 21, 2015 01:55pm

Why not spend on health care, education, religious reforms, small hydro projects.........its always motor-ways that cost billions and benefit a few.

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Shuaib Bhat

Mar 21, 2015 01:58pm

If everyone payed their taxes, he'd also focus on schools. His current focus seems to be: Karachi-Lahore motorway Energy crisis National security Education and health hves been devolved to provinces. The Provincial Governments of KPK and Balochistan are investing heavily in education. Punjab and especially Sindh Governments are lagging behind.

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ashfaq ahmad

Mar 21, 2015 02:26pm

Mr PM KPK and balochistan is also part of pakistan.

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faizan

Mar 21, 2015 02:26pm

Hav u noticed how everything starts and ends in lahore

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Anarchist

Mar 21, 2015 02:44pm

@Matrix So building a road from Lahore to Sialkot is a federal matter? Only in Pakistan PM spends so much time insugrating projects.

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Muhammad

Mar 21, 2015 02:45pm

Thanks Raheel Sharif for making these politicians run, local bodies elections ahead, all in power and their legs are now trembling, people are watching them carefully, thanks Raheel again, let the politicians run and win on the peoples power and not on the establishment's power!!!

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Aisha

Mar 21, 2015 03:20pm

@Hammad Building new medical colleges will not help. Fix the existing ones as your medical colleges are in a very pathetic state of affairs. Beyond Aga Khan University as per Prof Sheikhani none are now recognized in the USA as he stated his findings himself in the papers. See the match list for the US residency process this year. It will surprise you that the majority were from AKU again.

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SAT

Mar 21, 2015 03:24pm

If I were to plan for Pakistan at this stage, I would go like this. Education first Health second Infrastructure third. This includes power, water, roads, railways. These can help Pakistan on the road to growth.

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Malik sb

Mar 21, 2015 03:27pm

Good words by PM. Now make sure you implement what your plans are. People need energy and security.

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Naz kirmani

Mar 21, 2015 03:38pm

How many of the the lower middle and middle classes feeling this progress having made a difference to them. I fell the progress has in their democratic time have been one step forward and four backwards!

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asheikh

Mar 21, 2015 03:44pm

"Progress has always been made in democratic times. In dictatorships, the country was pushed backward" - please spare us this nonsense. A lot of progress was made during Musharraf time, which was all ruined by democratic rule of PPP. Just focus on the work please....

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Muhammed ali

Mar 21, 2015 04:03pm

We need dams to sort out looming water shortages and to produce cheap electricity......not metro buses.

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jaree

Mar 21, 2015 04:09pm

always thinking about road's . when the people are wishing they had food and water .

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Rahi mila

Mar 21, 2015 04:26pm

That's good news. It would make travelling between Lahore and Sialkot even better. I am seriously thinking about switching over from PPP to PML-N because they have a strong leadership with a good team.

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Ali (CA)

Mar 21, 2015 04:32pm

I am happy with the development but is PM a CM Punjab? If not please also make some development announcements elsewhere. If u can not at least do not chane gawadar China original route

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Saf

Mar 21, 2015 04:37pm

Don't be fooled by his nonsense in 1999 the economy was a 75 billion roller economy and the population was a lot smaller that's why we had plenty of electricity the Musharraf ere tripled the size of the economy and kept electricity on since then the so called democrats have kept the economy growing but a slower pace due to no planning of electricity. Cannot keep blaming others for your own mistakes.

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Manjeet kocchar

Mar 21, 2015 04:43pm

Good news gives pleasure to read this

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saleem

Mar 21, 2015 05:06pm

At the moment, unfortunately our policician has no periority. Top one should be now justice. Sufficieny in Passage/Energy to be done instantly. PTI is requested to take resposnsibilty of Education and Health beside their active role as opposition. Rest of development of industrries etc.

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Sarah Rehan

Mar 21, 2015 05:08pm

I wonder if the primary problems of Pakistan can be resolved without addressing poverty and population explosion which massively contribute to increasing class differences and diminishing resources.

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N.Sid

Mar 21, 2015 05:25pm

His vision for Pakistan starts with a 'Motorway' and ends at 'Expressway', there are other fringe elements like 'peeli taxi', apna ghar', and'Karz utaro' in yester-years. This is actually tunnel vision and hindsight. Feel pity for the Pakistanis...hope we/they get a real visionary leader like 'Lee kyon yew' of Singapore or one like 'Muhatir mohammad' of Malaysia in coming days.

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Owais Mangal

Mar 21, 2015 06:03pm

@jaree He can only think of making roads, unfortunately.

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Sameer H.

Mar 21, 2015 06:22pm

The west even with the advent of the automobile first prioritized industrialization before they shifted focus to building networks of roads. How are these hukamrans even considered to be leaders? a leader has foresight, these pricks are looking to make a quick buck before time runs out. And that goes the same for our so called bureaucracy.

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Euro

Mar 21, 2015 06:31pm

More contracts to PM Sharif's steel mills in roads where iron will be used (which in it self is a very very bad engineering). Corruption disguised as progress. Where are the universities and hospitals?

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Weirdity

Mar 21, 2015 06:36pm

Next he will be announcing a manned trip to Mars. Anything to keep the people from seeing the wholesale curruption.

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CYRUS

Mar 21, 2015 06:39pm

@atif Rome wasn't built in a day.

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Aamir

Mar 21, 2015 06:42pm

Yes, make more roads. They are the to solution to terrorism, load-shedding, violence etc. Couldn't have asked for a better PM.

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CYRUS

Mar 21, 2015 06:51pm

The prime minister should not need to explain himself on this law and order issue. Apparently Pakistanis are going to cry foul whatever happens. Your prime minister has done a lot and he is starting to look tired. He needs a vacation. Pakistan will never be a happy country. Why does he need to try and please people who have never done one day's work for the nation themselves?

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mohammad shafique

Mar 21, 2015 06:52pm

typically all the development is being done in punjab

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Aqeel Raza

Mar 21, 2015 07:28pm

Given his interest in motorways and expressways Nawaz Sharif should be head of National Highway Authority.

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Naxalite

Mar 21, 2015 07:31pm

Ask anyone and they ll tell you we need electricity the most.

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nadeem

Mar 21, 2015 07:49pm

Good job -long live NS. Hope you will succeed to eliminate mafia from Karachi.

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ZAK

Mar 21, 2015 07:52pm

with no petrol for cars to ply. bullock carts anyone.

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Ashraf Choudhry

Mar 21, 2015 07:56pm

Simplest solution of terrorism is ,an ordinance disarming everyone from President to peon except the institutions.Any violation trial in Military courts.Why it is not considered in the National Assembly?one wonders.

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Tiger

Mar 21, 2015 07:59pm

@Parvez Without motorways you will move good on back of camel and cost will be paid by poor anyway...

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Tiger

Mar 21, 2015 08:02pm

@Naz kirmani 40% of you time you wasted in fighting for legislation to control east pakistan.. 40 % of you time you wasted in justifying creation of Pakistan by supporting Muslims from Kashmir... 20% time to fight in Afghanistan, for and against Americans... And you want quick results from democracy... You have no clue what democracy means... It really means to listen rather than just give opinion...

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Muhammad iqbal

Mar 21, 2015 08:05pm

One motorway equal to one thousand schools and hospitals. Easy to get kickback in one bank transaction. 5% of 300 billion transferred to xyz bank in Jeddah or Dubai or London ( our leaders have lately said goodbye to swiss banks, thanks advice of Dr. Dar)

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Tiger

Mar 21, 2015 08:05pm

@jaree to get food and water you need road... Road is easy way to employ without much of investment. It creates infrastructure on which you can build future...

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soham

Mar 21, 2015 08:06pm

Nice initiative .... !!! Fast and reliable transport system is one of the basic need for economic development. In India we saw some good results after Golden Quadrilateral Project which connected Delhi-Kolkata-Chennai-Mumbai with four lane expressways ...

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honey

Mar 21, 2015 08:10pm

I think as PM , he should used common sense and focus on agriculture which is start diminishing due to water shortage and eat less....

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James

Mar 21, 2015 08:13pm

We need law and order, education and health expressway. Bricks and roads do not improve the lot of the common man.

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Sami

Mar 21, 2015 08:14pm

Allocate fews rupees for South Punjab, Balochistan, Interior Sindh, KPK,GB and FATA, if you consider that they are also part of Pakistan.

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Guldar Ali Khan Wazir

Mar 21, 2015 08:15pm

Better to focus equal attention on development projects in all federating units irrespective of any political association. My request to the PM is to restore original route for Pak-China corridor and do not let down the people of Balochistan and KPK. We wish him success in his mission for making Pakistan the most developed country.

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M. Ali

Mar 21, 2015 08:25pm

Nawaz govt. has always given preference to infrastructure development in Punjab and has no regard for other provinces. All motorways and express ways are in Punjab. At least they should now give preference to Karachi -Hyderabad and Karachi -Quetta motorways. Karachi generate more than 60% of total taxes but is most neglected city.

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Eman

Mar 21, 2015 08:37pm

@Jawad But Lahore is not the whole country. There is Pakistan outside of Lahore

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Naseer

Mar 21, 2015 08:48pm

@Shuaib Bhat same old politics from 90s, we don't need motorways , we need clean drinking water, hospitals,education. It seems he is not interested in Educating young people. So what are the priorities.

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MAlvi

Mar 21, 2015 08:51pm

Nawaz always had his priorities wrong. He is reminded by every one every day, but he is so stubborn. He never misses a chance to attack Musharraf. Mr. PM, the nation knows that Pakistan made more progress under Musharraf than any other government. PMLn and PPP have both worst record. Nawaz, you should realize that such statements are back firing on you.

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Shamain is sick of nick imposters

Mar 21, 2015 09:03pm

@Aisha ,very wrong views i m shocked. Building good med schools is very essential. And also spend on kb dam, build electricity tranmission infrastructure, develop powr projects. Very unintelligent gov. Kahan jatay hain intelligent log when needed.

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GREEN JAGUAR

Mar 21, 2015 09:05pm

Nawaz and company: Please stick to infrastructure development and stay out of our cricket and sports arena!

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Shamain is sick of nick imposters

Mar 21, 2015 09:06pm

@Aisha , n also existing schools r in bad state because each year they keep expanding seats but capacity is fixed. What outcome you will expect from overpopulated colleges Better remain silent than talk irrelevant

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Atif Malik

Mar 21, 2015 09:09pm

آگر موٹروے سے قومیں بنتیں تو دبئ سعودیہ عرب کویت عظیم قومیں بن چکیں ہوتیں

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m. a

Mar 21, 2015 09:12pm

This stupid head is advertising and spending lot of money to show that he cut down the inflation from 13.75 % to 3.7 %. All the prices of the eatable foods has come way down. including that of Ghee, oil , power and almost every thing. He just opened the Karachi roadway, now he is talking about Sialkot. This son of a dog can not be stopped as long as he lives. Shahbaz is now distributing the cars to people to help them in their jobs.

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Mar 21, 2015 09:13pm

@N.Sid Add Lap top too. He has Three lanes up and three lanes dn motor way between Lahore and Islamabad, with hardly any traffic on one lane alone, as it going through wilderness. That shows lack of good planning. Lap tops Result: Big computer labs in universities are deserted. plus, where is the electricity to run thousands of laptops? Pl open up your mind.

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DoodWala

Mar 21, 2015 09:15pm

@Anarchist Well National Highways in the USA are federally funded. Who did you expect to do it, the provinces?

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Asif

Mar 21, 2015 09:21pm

Just one word, incompetence!!!!.

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Azmeen

Mar 21, 2015 09:25pm

Keep on NS. Any sort of Development Projects are bound to create employment and bring positive change in the society.

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mohammadali

Mar 21, 2015 09:45pm

How about first repairing the existing roads in disarray in major cities.

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Mar 21, 2015 09:47pm

A few months ago I had a chance to travel on LHE-ISB motorway, and NEVER were more than a few vehicles in total on both sides combined as long as one can see. Such a utilization. Let businesses grow, let people be prosperous to utilize the existing ones first. Stop robbing the country.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Mar 21, 2015 09:53pm

What else can he say?

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mrme

Mar 21, 2015 10:26pm

@Jawad ~so? wrong priorities followed by the nation and then we weep over our misfortunes!

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Ali Haider

Mar 21, 2015 10:47pm

its no doubt that this is also necessary but I wish that PM gives the priority to schools and hospitals...

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Ali Haider

Mar 21, 2015 10:47pm

its no doubt that this is also necessary but I wish that PM gives the priority to schools and hospitals...

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Ali Haider

Mar 21, 2015 10:49pm

its no doubt that this is also necessary but I wish that PM gives the priority to schools and hospitals...

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Imran Altaf

Mar 21, 2015 11:00pm

Express way and I'm sure his company's will supply the steel at a good price, the price being all the money and energy Pakistan does not have.

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Shamain is sick of nick imposters

Mar 21, 2015 11:07pm

Dawn didn publish my 1st comment anways by schools iwas referring to Med schools

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Riazullah Baig

Mar 21, 2015 11:18pm

@Shuaib Bhat How will the construction of motorways solve the energy crisis?

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Naeem Sajjad

Mar 21, 2015 11:21pm

I don't think pakiatan requires anything other than expressways. Such projects fill the pockets of the politicians.

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ladies and gentlemen

Mar 21, 2015 11:24pm

Of course, Lahore to Sialkot or Lahore to whatever city in Punjab. That's the vision of this Sharif clan. What about Karachi to Hyderabad or Quetta to Karachi. We have to wait for some military dictator to develop elsewhere.

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Ahmad Ali

Mar 21, 2015 11:27pm

Reforms should be the top priority!

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zahid

Mar 21, 2015 11:28pm

Strange comments. Eisenhower had built the highway system in the US. This benefited people immensely and helped with trade. Good to appreciate a positive step instead of sticking with your political loyalties.

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amd

Mar 21, 2015 11:30pm

Nawaz Sharif certainly has a vision for Pakistan.He is pro - progress and pro -industry and wants to take his country forward regardless of zero appreciation and rubbish nonsense criticism from many people

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Tariq

Mar 21, 2015 11:57pm

Building roads gets vote, education gets think people. Pathetic politicains. wake up people of Pakistan.

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Imran

Mar 22, 2015 12:02am

Why not an expressway from Sialkot to Islamabad ? Why everything should come to Lahore ?

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Shamain a wannabe zak bahi

Mar 22, 2015 12:16am

@DoodWala ,and now usa highways are crumbling too and they arent upgrading them either. The last iread was that.

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Shakil Khan

Mar 22, 2015 01:24am

Mr So very Sharif you can also earn so much commissions in building Hospitals and Schools, though it may not be mega kickbacks as you get in Motorways and metros. But nations will be far better off with better schools, hospitals and clean water!

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Qusay A.

Mar 22, 2015 02:03am

We badly need basic necessities first throughout pakistan. Karachi generates more than 70% revenue of Pakistan whereas we see no development here. Instead the city is getting worst. Your family are rich enough please not wasting our tax money go make your commissions. !

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fahad thahim

Mar 22, 2015 02:14am

@Jawad does pakistan only consist of punjab for you ?

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Shakil Khan

Mar 22, 2015 02:33am

Will all Socrates hold your horses, this expressway is being built by Provincial Government not National Highway since its inception during Parvaiz Elahi. What this goon is doing in provincial matter if this is only the argument here?

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Kashmire

Mar 22, 2015 03:09am

Forget all that! First protect us from the terrorists!

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JUSTICE

Mar 22, 2015 03:15am

Spending money on building highway is not going to help poor, only upper class will benefit from this. What mega project Nawaz Sharif has launched for poor?

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Tariq Nawaz

Mar 22, 2015 04:03am

There you go....How many billions would be syphoned off.....

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Shahid

Mar 22, 2015 04:16am

FOR God sake spend this money on water reservoirs. We are gona suffer so badly in coming years that people will forget about elctricity and gas. Our rulers must stop this votes-oriented management.

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saeeds

Mar 22, 2015 04:42am

@muhammad school and hospital and providing jobs are the responsibility of private company . Awam people responsibility is to produce less kids. Road and infrastructure is always goverment responsibility . If we understand thsee simple rules Pakistan is in better shape

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MKB

Mar 22, 2015 04:45am

@asheikh Please name the projects started and completed during the dictatorship of Musharraf. I can't recall any major project was done during his tenure except the Afghan war.

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Abdullah Yousuf

Mar 22, 2015 05:43am

Congrats to Mian Nawaz Shareef for announcing Sialkot Lahore expressway. Let us not indulge in arguments about eras of development,just go ahead & continue progress for the development of country.Control and contain the corruptions,and bring Karachi situation under full & complete control,writ of government must be felt .So far so good your PML(N) performance is hopeful,it will be much better if you please include some renowned technocrats as advisors,also you may take advises from V.Chancellors & Professors of renowned Pak Universities.

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Abdul Hai

Mar 22, 2015 06:52am

@Rais Motorway is for traffic and not herding sheeps. Your province need education.

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raheem

Mar 22, 2015 07:30am

Pakistani is the one those who say, i am a pakistani anywhere in the world is accepted by pakistani in our home. is a pakistani.

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ssW

Mar 22, 2015 09:13am

Progress can be sustained only by effectively reviving the railways.By building roads all you increase is import business.Increase in road space is more than matched by increase in traffic.The benefits of roads dwindle fast and serve social aspects of connectivity more than business opportunities.

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Ali

Mar 22, 2015 11:53pm

@Parvez Benefits a few? That sounds funny. Look at Lahore Islamabad Motorway and you will get the answer. Not only commuters, the fate of the whole area adjacent to M2 has changed. The industrial area of Faisalabad was some 8-10 hours away from the federal capital before the M3, now you need 3 and a half hour to reach.

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