Interior Minister Naqvi Launches Multi‑Billion Dual Carriageway Project on Islamabad Expressway

ISLAMABAD – Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday broke ground on a multi‑billion‑rupee dual carriageway that will replace the existing service road along the Islamabad Expressway, announced the Capital Development Authority.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) plans to build a nine‑kilometre dual carriageway with three lanes in each direction, taking over the current deteriorated service road. The route will run from Faizabad to the Gulberg Green stop. It remains unclear why the CDA opted for a three‑lane dual carriageway instead of upgrading the existing service road, which already carries four lanes per side on the expressway.

The expressway’s right‑of‑way spans 1,200 feet. While no official statement has been issued, the CDA has previously explored the possibility of developing commercial ventures within this corridor.

An official commented, “Further details will emerge in the coming days.”

Initially, the CDA intended to award the service‑road upgrade through a competitive bidding process, attracting technical proposals from eleven private firms. Later, the authority shifted to a government‑to‑government procurement route under Section 42(f) of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PAPRA) rules.

There is speculation that the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) may undertake the construction. The PC‑I estimates the project cost at Rs7.4 billion, although the final figure could vary once the government‑to‑government tender process is completed.

An official said, “Once the government‑to‑government tendering process concludes, work is expected to commence within a few days.”

He added that, assuming smooth progress, the project would likely take at least six months to finish.

During the groundbreaking ceremony, Interior Minister Naqvi urged the CDA to complete the project within 90 days.

Sources noted that more than 600 structures or encroachments lie within the road’s alignment, and relocating dozens of electricity poles will also be a time‑consuming task.

The sources added that it has not yet been determined whether graves located in the alignment will be relocated elsewhere.

They explained, “An old graveyard exists in Faizabad, and several isolated graves are situated along the route; roughly 200 graves may need to be moved.” The official added that, starting Wednesday, the CDA will begin clearing the right‑of‑way of encroachments.

It is worth noting that the CDA has already invested billions of rupees in overhauling and expanding the Expressway from Faizabad to GT Road. The final segment, from Gulberg to GT Road, was widened last year and inaugurated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in December, together with the T‑Chowk/Iqbal Flyover at the GT Road‑Expressway junction.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2026

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