Rawalpindi: The Punjab government has approved the declaration of land along both sides of the Rawalpindi Ring Road as commercial, paving the way for large-scale commercial development along the 38.3-kilometre corridor, according to a news report.
The decision allows the construction of three- to ten-storey commercial buildings and plazas along the route. Authorities have also approved the development of service roads on both sides of the Ring Road to support future commercial and traffic activity.
Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi Ring Road project is unlikely to meet the Punjab chief minister’s December 31, 2025 completion deadline. Officials are now targeting the completion of Phase-I by March 31, 2026. Construction on the six-lane corridor has reached around 75% completion. The overall cost of the project has increased from PKR 33 billion to PKR 50 billion, while additional land acquisition costs are yet to be finalised.
The Ring Road will start at Banth on GT Road near Rawat and end at Thallian near the motorway. It includes five interchanges at Banth, Chak Beli Khan, Adiala Road, Chakri Road and Thallian. Under future planning, the under-construction Thallian Interchange will be expanded into a broad-based interchange, requiring the acquisition of an additional 1,134 kanal and 18 marla of land under Section 4. So far, 8,992 kanals of land have been acquired, and more than PKR 5.90 billion has already been released as compensation.
In addition to road infrastructure, authorities have approved the establishment of an industrial zone along the corridor. The project also includes plans to plant around 300,000 trees, develop recreational spaces, and install computerised LED screens for corporate advertising along the route.
Once completed, the Rawalpindi Ring Road is expected to ease traffic congestion, improve connectivity between major highways, and boost commercial and industrial activity in the region.
Samra Zulfiqar, a real estate analyst at Zameen.com, is passionate about finding projects that offer buyers the best returns. Her keen insights spotlight the market’s most promising opportunities.
