PM opens Kashmir Chowk underpass built in record 27 days
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday inaugurated the Kashmir Chowk underpass in Islamabad, describing its completion in a record 27 days as an exceptional achievement and a practical demonstration of preparations for next year’s Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the prime minister said the project went beyond the construction of a 500-metre underpass, as it also included a four-kilometre road network, two monuments reflecting Kashmir’s identity and the plantation of thousands of trees.
He said the development scheme would help ease traffic congestion and improve connectivity between Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
PM Shehbaz praised Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, the Capital Development Authority (CDA), contractors and officials for completing the project in just 27 days.
He said he could not recall another development project being completed at such speed.
The prime minister said the rapid completion reflected the government’s commitment to serving the nation, promoting Pakistan’s development and securing a prominent place for the country among the international community.
He said the government was working to improve Islamabad’s infrastructure and beautify the capital ahead of the SCO summit next year, when thousands of guests would visit Pakistan.
PM Shehbaz stressed that preparations should ensure smooth traffic flow and make the capital more attractive for visiting dignitaries.
He urged Naqvi to decorate Islamabad with flowers so residents and foreign guests could enjoy the city’s beauty.
The prime minister said the successful completion of the project demonstrated that collective efforts, hard work and efficiency could accelerate the country’s development.
Project details
According to the briefing, the Kashmir Chowk underpass project was completed at a cost of Rs1.45 billion.
The project includes a 500-metre underpass, around four kilometres of connecting roads and two monuments inspired by the Kashmir theme. It also features 6,340 newly planted shade trees.
Islamabad to host SCO summit in August 2027
Pakistan will host the SCO Council of Heads of State summit in Islamabad in August 2027 as part of its 2026-27 chairmanship of the organisation.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a permanent intergovernmental regional organisation established in 2001. Its 10 member states are Pakistan, China, Russia, India, Iran, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Pakistan assumed the rotating chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State following the summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, in September 2026.
The 2027 gathering will bring together leaders of member states and provide a platform for discussions on regional cooperation and shared priorities.