Another significant step in the development of Islamabad’s infrastructure has been taken with the opening of the Serena Interchange underpass.

After visiting the underpass and expressing satisfaction with its development, Muhammad Ali Randhawa, Chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), pledged that the project will address the area’s persistent traffic problems.

A significant accomplishment, the underpass’s completion will facilitate and enhance traffic flow and connection throughout the capital.

Mohsin Naqvi, the federal minister of interior, had previously stated that the Serena Chowk Interchange project will be completed in three months as opposed to 10. The CDA was tasked by him to complete the project ahead of schedule.

Along with the Serena Interchange underpass, two more underpasses on the Srinagar Highway have also been finished, and one on Suhrawardy Road is currently accessible to traffic.

The CDA is striving to fulfill the project’s deadlines in order to guarantee that two further underpasses near the Islamabad Club will be finished by January 20, 2025.

On November 5, 2024, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif placed the Rs. 8 billion foundation stone for the two major interchanges. The CDA has also chosen to build an underpass on Murree Road in order to facilitate motoring for cars traveling from Murree to Srinagar Highway, thus further easing traffic congestion.

In order to reach the Srinagar Highway, cars from Murree currently have to travel all the way to the Dhokri roundabout, which causes a severe traffic jam at the intersection. It is hoped that the underpass on Murree Road would resolve this problem.

LAHORE: As part of the Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar initiative, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has set the lofty goal of lending money to 40,000 consumers by May so they can construct their homes.

An allocation of Rs 62 billion was approved for the housing plan, and the officials were instructed to start the loan disbursement procedure right away. To further assist qualified households, the chief minister further argued for raising the loan amount from Rs 1.5 million to Rs 2 million.

Since the program’s inception, more than 5,000 residents have received loans, and 4,200 homes are almost finished. The program’s goal is to give impoverished families homes in partnership with the Housing and Urban Development Department and the Ravi Urban Development Authority.

Every citizen has the fundamental right to own a home, and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif reaffirmed that everyone who is homeless should have a place to live.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, who also works in the housing industry, praised the security forces for their valor in eliminating nine terrorists in North Waziristan.

Praising the security forces for putting their lives in danger to protect the country, she wished them luck in all that they do. Five people were detained by the FIA Cyber Crime Faisalabad teams in connection with the creation and dissemination of phony recordings of the Emirati President and Chief Minister using artificial intelligence (AI).

The signing ceremony occurred between Pakistan’s Ministry for Religious Affairs and the Saudi Ministry for Hajj. This year, a total of 179,210 Pakistani citizens are anticipated to undertake Hajj.

Pakistani pilgrims will be designated a specific space in Mina, with costs for this arrangement to be lowered.

The pilgrims may choose their length of stay in Madinah, from four to eight days.

A representative from the Ministry for Religious Affairs emphasized the implementation of a new, abbreviated Hajj schedule, spanning 20 to 25 days.

The Saudi Hajj Ministry has guaranteed complete collaboration in providing optimal services to Pakistani pilgrims, pledging to exert every effort to improve their experience during this sacred journey.

On January 10, the Pakistan Ministry of Religious Affairs authorized private Hajj organizing firms and their subsidiaries to begin bookings for Hajj 2025.
The Ministry’s spokesperson announced that bookings for the Private Hajj Scheme would be available from January 10 to January 31, 2025.

The ministry has disclosed information regarding various Hajj packages available under the Private Hajj Scheme on its official website.

Basic Hajj packages vary from Rs.1.1 million to Rs.2.15 million, whereas premium packages over Rs.3 million require approval from the ‘Hajj Policy Formulation Committee.’

The spokeswoman additionally stated that private Hajj operators must execute bookings for pilgrims in accordance with the Service Provider Agreement (SPA). Operators must provide comprehensive details throughout the approval procedure for bundles above Rs.3 million, he stated.