LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif visited different development sites in Lahore to inspect ongoing and completed infrastructure projects, including the newly built Route 47.
During her visit, she reviewed the newly constructed overhead bridge on Walton Road and formally opened Route 47 for public use. This major road project, completed under the Central Business District (CBD) initiative, is now open to regular traffic.
Route 47 is a modern 4.5-kilometre dual carriageway with three lanes on each side. It links Kalma Chowk to Walton and has been named in honour of the 1947 struggle for Pakistan’s independence.
Officials said the new road will greatly reduce travel time between Gulberg and Walton, allowing commuters to reach their destinations within minutes.
The route also includes a 2.5-kilometre-long dedicated cycling track. The Walton railway crossing flyover features separate paths for pedestrians and cyclists, making it a modern and inclusive road network.
Lahore Ranked Among World’s Safest Cities
Separately, Lahore has earned a place among the world’s safest cities in the 2025 Crime and Safety Index by Numbeo. The city ranked 37th in the Global Crime Index and 63rd in the list of safest cities—outperforming major cities like New York, London, and Paris.
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The report highlights a big drop in Lahore’s crime rate, which officials link to better policing strategies, data-based crime control, and strict accountability.
Between April 2023 and April 2024, reported crimes fell by 50%—from 67,585 cases to 34,091. Robberies and murders dropped by 64%, general robberies by 55%, motorcycle thefts by 33%, street snatching by 42%, car thefts by 33%, and other vehicle thefts by 39%.
Over 400 police officers faced departmental action, and four Station House Officers (SHOs) were jailed in their own police stations for misconduct.
In another major move, the government has decided to launch Pakistan’s first high-speed bullet train between Lahore and Rawalpindi, marking a new step in the country’s transportation development.
Punjab govt to plant over 40 million trees under CM Green Initiative
