ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday laid the foundation stone of Serena Chowk on Khayaban-i-Suharwardi and PTCL Chowk on 9th Avenue to ensure smooth flow of traffic in the capital city.

He was briefed by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa that the Serena Chowk project would be completed in 60 days and 9th Avenue in 100 days.

The minister said a Safari Park will also be set up in Islamabad after a few months and the prime minister would be requested for laying the foundation stone of the park as well.

Mr Naqvi said two new five-star hotels will be established in Islamabad as the CDA had floated bids for auction of two plots near Marriott.

Serena Chowk worth Rs4.2bn will be completed in two months, PTCL Chowk on 9th Avenue in 100 days, PM told

He said besides other projects, Margalla Avenue will also be linked with Motorway (MI) and after its completion the distance between the President House and the motorway would be covered in 15 to 20 minutes. The minister said South Asia’s tallest flat will also be set up in Islamabad soon.

After laying the foundation stone of the projects, Prime Minister Sharif appreciated Mr Naqvi and his team, saying Mr Naqvi had continued the pace of development in Islamabad like he did in Punjab.

Mr Sharif said these projects marked the beginning of initiatives for development and prosperity of the residents of Islamabad and other adjoining areas.

He said it was good that the projects which were supposed to be completed in six months would be ready in 60 and 100 days. He also appreciated the interior minister, information minister and CDA teams for beatification work for the recent SCO conference, saying foreign delegates, including the Chinese and Russian prime ministers were impressed with the beauty of Islamabad and they also acknowledged it.

He also appreciated the CDA chairman, IGP Islamabad, army officers and all stakeholders involved in making the SCO summit a successful event.

The ceremony was also attended by information minister Atta Tarar and PML-N local MNAs.

Under the Serena project worth Rs4.2 billion, three underpasses (two on Srinagar Highway and one on Khyaban-i-Suharwardi) along with some loops would be constructed while the 9th Avenue project worth RsRs4.1 billion includes one flyover.

The Serena project was set to begin last year but at the eleventh hour, Shehbaz Sharif, who was also the prime minister in the PDM government, refused to inaugurate it. He had sought credentials of Railcop, which had won the project because of its lowest bid of Rs2.1 billion. Now, with almost double amount the project is being launched. However, CDA officials said the scope of the project had been changed and additional work added that increased its cost.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2024