Pakistan today observed a significant milestone in its infrastructural history-the anniversary of the 1997 inauguration of the Islamabad-Lahore Motorway (M-2), the nation’s first-ever motorway that ushered in a new era of modern transportation.
The landmark project was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, who is the current Quaid of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Spanning 339 kilometres, the M-2 served as a symbol of national progress and helped demonstrate the transformative role that advanced highways play in fostering economic growth and enhancing connectivity.
On the day of its opening, Sharif led a large convoy from Islamabad to Lahore, marking the official commencement of a new chapter in the country”s transportation development.
In his inaugural speech, the prime minister had stated, ‘Highways are not merely lines of tar; they are lines of good fortune for the welfare and advancement of a nation and its civilization. The Pakistan Motorway linking Lahore with Islamabad will, God willing, prove to be such a line of prosperity for us.’
The M-2 is credited with laying the foundation for an expanding motorway network that continues to benefit millions of people across Pakistan today.