LAHORE: In a major push against air pollution and smog, the Punjab government, in partnership with Pakistan Railways, has launched the ambitious 40-kilometer Green Corridor Project stretching from Shahdara to Raiwind, converting approximately 700 kanals of railway-adjacent land into a lush green belt with recreational benefits.
Projected to cost over Rs 2.35 billion, this initiative seeks to revive its 2017‑18 plan that had been shelved but has now regained momentum under the administration of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The Housing Department has submitted the PC‑1 proposal, and execution is targeted for completion within 12 months.
The corridor is divided into four development packages: Shahdara to Lahore Railway Station, Lahore to Walton, Walton to Kot Lakhpat, and Kot Lakhpat to Raiwind, with a total of 33 designated activation sites for public amenities and green zones.
Notably, retired railway carriages will be repurposed into libraries and cafés, and the corridor will include jogging tracks, open gyms, cycle lanes, children’s play areas, and fruit carts or market stalls for community engagement.
Officials underscore the project’s role in improving Lahore’s urban aesthetics, combating extreme heat and pollution, and transforming public health, calling it a core element of the province’s climate resilience strategy.
