LAHORE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday laid the foundation stone of Lahore Eastern Bypass Project at Kala Shah Kaku.

The six-lane 16.5 km-long project will cost Rs28 billion and will connect with Lahore Ring Road some 3.3 kilometres away from Niazi Interchange.

While addressing the public gathering after laying the foundation stone, Nawaz said, “PML-N government is implementing the agenda of progress and development in the country and believes in serving the people.”

He said elevating the living standard of the people of the country is the duty of the government and PML-N is fulfilling its responsibility in this regard. “The world is acknowledging the pace of development in Pakistan.”

The bypass, starting from Mehmood Booti Interchange at Lahore Ring Road, would culminate at Kala Shah Kaku Interchange — the junction of GT Road and Lahore-Islamabad Motorway.

The construction of the bypass would facilitate the traffic at GT Road moving towards eastern and northern Lahore. It will also divert the traffic load besides curbing the heavy flow of traffic between Kala Shah Kaku and Lahore at Ravi Bridge and GT Road.

Keeping in view the Punjab government's proposed Shahi Bagh Park Project, this bypass is said to open up avenues for development of tourism and trade in the area.

Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain and other party leaders were also present at the groundbreaking ceremony.