ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday laid the foundation stone of Kashmir Chowk Underpass worth Rs1.4 billion, which will be completed in a month.

On the other hand, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced the start of several new projects soon, including the conversion of F-9 Park into Hyde Park, construction of Asia’s largest Safari Park and a new park as well.

According to the CDA, Kashmir Chowk Underpass is a major infrastructure project aimed at easing traffic congestion, improving mobility and further strengthening Islamabad’s road network.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, CDA Chairman Sohail Ashraf briefed the prime minister about the underpass project and said the project had been finalised at a cost of Rs1.4 billion, reduced from the initial estimated cost of Rs1.6 billion.

Conversion of F-9 Park into Hyde Park, construction of Asia’s largest Safari Park and a new park in Islamabad also on the cards, says interior minister

The Kashmir Chowk junction at present handles approximately 107,000 vehicles, resulting in frequent traffic congestion, delays and traffic conflicts, particularly during VIP movements and peak hours.

Besides the underpass, four slip roads are also part of the project. Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister appreciated the interior minister and his team for launching the project. He said that road projects helped reduction of travelling time and benefit the general public, including students, to reach their destination at the shortest possible time.

Meanwhile, the interior minister said that under the PM’s vision Islamabad was being developed on modern lines ahead of the next year’s Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conference, adding the underpass project was part of that preparation. He said after completion of the underpass and ongoing Expressway expansion project, travelling distance from Islamabad to Rawalpindi will be significantly reduced.

Mr Naqvi said Asia’s largest Safari Park will be set up near Malpur on 450 acres while F-9 Park will be converted into Hyde Park. Moreover, a new park of the size of F-9 Park will be set up [likely near D-12]. He said Islamabad’s development remained stuck during the last 25 years but “when we will leave there will be no need of development in next 20 years.” He claimed that the greenery of Islamabad will be increased three times.

Mr Naqvi said the state minister for interior had been working on making Islamabad a plastic-free and cashless city by the end of this year. He also claimed that Islamabad would become three times greener than it is today. He added that digitisation of the land record of Islamabad will also be completed by the end of this year.

The underpass project is being executed by Habib Construction Services (HCS). Last month, CDA opened technical bids and the second company in the race was declared non-responsive, therefore, HCS’s financial bid was opened and subsequently work order was issued for submitting Rs1.45 billion against the Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) cost of Rs1.486 billion.

According to the bidding documents, the project is to be completed in 90 days. However, CDA officials said HCS had the capacity to complete the project in one month as during the last two years it had completed CDA’s several mega projects - Serena Interchange, Murree Road underpass, T-Chowk flyover and Shaheen Chowk underpass - in the shortest time.

Three engineers of CDA, who remained part of the said previous projects, are working on this project too and the trio is responsible to get work done as soon as possible.

“Hopefully, this project will be completed in one month time,” an official said.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2026