Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Thursday that Pakistan will host the next Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in 2027. The announcement was made during the groundbreaking ceremony for the T-Chowk Flyover Project on the Islamabad Expressway. Directing authorities to begin preparations immediately, the Prime Minister outlined that hosting the key international event would require constructing new accommodations and a comprehensive beautification drive for the capital city, Islamabad.
The T-Chowk Flyover Project, central to the day’s event, is a Rs. 1.495 billion initiative designed to resolve major traffic congestion at a critical junction. The Prime Minister performed the groundbreaking and set a strict 150-day deadline for its completion, emphasizing that the highest standards of quality must be maintained without any compromise. He praised the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi for designing the project on existing land, which avoided the need for acquisition and saved an estimated Rs. 7 billion.
The project is a vital piece of infrastructure for the region. The Islamabad Expressway is the main artery connecting Rawalpindi, Punjab, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and the GT Road. The new 1.034-kilometer flyover at the perennially congested T-Chowk junction is expected to facilitate the smooth flow of approximately 41,572 vehicles daily, significantly improving travel for the nearly 100,000 vehicles that currently use the deteriorating junction.
Looking beyond this project, PM Shehbaz also revealed plans for a future rail car system for the twin cities, describing it as a potential “great gift” for residents. He reiterated that quality remains the top priority in all national development endeavors. The government’s focus is now dual: delivering urgent public infrastructure projects like the flyover and embarking on large-scale preparations to successfully host the world at the SCO summit in 2027.
