Work is in progress on the detailed design of the 99km long Sialkot-Lahore Motorway, a mega project by the Punjab government, which will cost Rs 23 billion. NESPAK is providing engineering services for this motorway which will introduce a new era of development in the region and considerably increase trade activities in areas along the highway.
According to NESPAK sources, the project design will be completed early next year. After the design's approval, tenders will be invited for the construction of this Motorway. The motorway has been designed for a speed of 120 km per hour and involves the construction of 7 interchanges, 40 bridges, 70 underpasses and 8 flyovers.
The government will establish three Industrial Zones, each spread over an area of 3000 acres, along the motorway to boost industrialisation. A German and a Swedish university will also inaugurate their campuses in this area.
The residential sector will benefit from the development of housing colonies near the interchanges. The multidimensional benefits of the project ought to bring healthy social, economic, geographical and cultural changes according to the sources.
The Punjab government has undertaken this project due to the importance of Sialkot as an industrial city. It produces sports goods, surgical instruments, leather products, etc and therefore tremendous cargo traffic plies from Sialkot to Lahore for the marketing of the finished products in the country and their exports to world markets.