The Government of Pakistan has announced a major infrastructure initiative to link the holy Sikh sites of Kartarpur and Nankana Sahib with the National Motorway Network. Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan directed the National Highway Authority (NHA) to start work on a new motorway connecting Sialkot to Kartarpur, which will be named the “Guru Nanak Expressway.”
The project is expected to enhance accessibility for local and international pilgrims, while also providing a boost to the socio-economic development of surrounding towns, including Narang Mandi and Badu Malhi.
“These projects will be a game-changer for the region,” stated the Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan.
Minister said the government plans to attract investment from the global Sikh community through international marketing campaigns in London, Canada, and the United States.
Along the expressway, modern infrastructure such as 3-star to 5-star hotels, rest areas, and shopping malls will be developed to accommodate travelers and encourage tourism. The minister emphasized that these projects would be promoted at international roadshows to attract foreign direct investment.
This initiative is being seen as a step toward not only improving religious tourism but also opening up economic opportunities for the region. The expressway is expected to significantly reduce travel time for pilgrims and could become a model for linking cultural and religious sites to national highways.