Kashmir Chowk Underpass Completed in 27 Days, Naqvi Guarantees Quality

Islamabad: Federal Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi has described the completion of the Kashmir Chowk underpass in just 27 days as the result of an excellent strategy. He said the project would bring citizens immediate relief from travel hardships.

Addressing attendees at the inauguration of the Kashmir Chowk underpass, he made clear that no compromise had been made on construction quality during the rapid work. He said the project’s main challenge was to finish the work quickly without harming quality, so that road closures would not disrupt citizens’ daily lives. The CDA and third-party monitoring teams maintained an effective round-the-clock monitoring system, he said, as a result of which every stage was completed transparently. On environmental protection, he said 30 to 40 old trees on the route had been fully protected, while 6,340 new plants and trees had been planted to beautify the project and improve the environment.

Praising the role of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Naqvi said the prime minister had stood firmly with the truth during the operation against illegal encroachments on One Constitution Avenue. Following the federal cabinet’s formal approval of the joint investigation team’s report, state land worth billions of rupees, which had been sold for a pittance, has been returned to the CDA. He said this historic asset would be developed into a five-star hotel of international standard, in line with its original purpose, so that distinguished guests attending conferences such as the SCO Summit would have world-class accommodation.

Outlining the capital’s development priorities, the interior minister said major projects were being launched to make the federal capital internationally attractive. He said international consultants had been engaged for the construction of Asia’s largest modern safari park in Islamabad, and practical work on it would begin in January.

He further said work on the renovation of the Convention Centre would begin within the next 15 days, while next week the prime minister himself would lay the foundation stone of an ultra-modern international cricket stadium in the federal capital.