hose looking to reach Walton Road from Gulberg in just a few minutes will soon be able to do so — thanks to Route 47, a freshly built, six-lane, signal-free smart road that is 4.5 kilometres long.

The road is complete and ready to be opened to public. However, the Central Business District Punjab, the executing agency, is reluctant to commit to an exact date just yet.

Earlier, motorists in Gulberg had two options to get to Walton: a) via Centre Point, Cavalry Ground and Defence Morr; and b) via Ferozepur Road up to Qainchi intersection from where they’d take a left. Both routes are nominally signal-free but always choked with traffic.

The CBD calls Route 47 their flagship project. It has been built with a budget of Rs 13 billion. The stated mission is to “transform urban vision blending sustainability, modern infrastructure, economic vibrancy and civic responsibility.” It includes a kilometre-long flyover.

The road is dedicated to the memory of the Partition when Walton became the first stop for many coming to Pakistan from India. It is said that Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s aircraft also landed at the Walton Airport.

Imran Amin, the chief executive officer at CBD, says Route 47 is “a symbol of our abiding commitment to modernity, economic empowerment and social uplift. By integrating green spaces, public art, sustainable architecture and smart governance systems, such development seeks to humanise the urban experience while maintaining world-class standards of functionality.”

“Such development seeks to humanise the urban experience while maintaining world-class standards of functionality,” says Imran Amin, the chief executive officer at CBD.

According to Amin, the corridor should be open to public later this month. It will serve as one of the arteries connecting Walton Road with Gulberg’s Main Boulevard; and the future CBD Punjab Loop. Route 47 is “engineered to accommodate high volumes of traffic while maintaining a pedestrian-first approach, reflecting a careful balance between functionality and livability,” he adds.

A prominent feature of Route 47 is a dedicated, 2.5-kilometre long cycling lane, an exclusive corridor that seeks to promote non-motorised transport and reinforces efforts to cut the city’s carbon footprint. In a city where cycling infrastructure is often seen as an afterthought, the integration of this lane represents a forward-thinking shift towards healthier, cleanerand more inclusive urban mobility.

Energy innovation is central to the project. Route 47 features solar-powered footpaths, bike and pedestrian lanes and advanced drainage systems.

The Walton Railway Crossing Flyover, a 900-metre-long elevated pedestrian walkway, is also fitted with solar panels capable of generating approximately 1 MW of clean energy. This energy is used to power core functions for CBD Punjab, from lighting and surveillance to utility systems and emergency backups. The idea is to gradually decouple essential urban functions from the traditional energy grid, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem that can reduce both costs and environmental impact over time.

Adjacent to Route 47 is the CBD Quaid District, designed as the economic nucleus of CBD Punjab. Built on principles of vertical density, mixed-use architecture and sustainable building practices, the Quaid District is conceived as a space where business, culture and community converge. Towering buildings with sleek façades, open plazas, landscaped green areas and high-tech surveillance systems work in tandem to create a secure, vibrant and modern environment for work and life.

All essential infrastructure — ranging from electricity and ICT to gas lines — is installed underground. This, Amin claims will enhance the aesthetic appeal of the area while ensuring safety, reliability and ease of maintenance.

As climate change increasingly impacts urban life, CBD Punjab has built a rain harvesting pond that can store up to 5 million gallons of rainwater. Designed to retain runoff from at least two major rain spells, the pond is expected to play a crucial role in flood mitigation and groundwater replenishment. Once the pond reaches its maximum capacity, the excess water will be redirected to four recharge wells, ensuring that valuable rainwater is not lost.

Amin says the economic implications of these initiatives are just as transformative as their environmental impact. With incentives for multinational corporations, zoning policies designed to attract tech companies and financial institutions and proximity to educational and healthcare institutions, the Quaid District is fast emerging as a magnet for high-value investment.

The availability of ready-to-deploy commercial space in a digitally connected, environmentally resilient setting is a game-changer for businesses looking to establish a strong foothold in South Asia, Amin says.

Ahsan Malik is a media veteran interested in politics, consumer rights and entrepreneurship