38 flood-damaged roads reopened in Faisalabad

Highway dept says remaining 36 routes will be restored as floodwaters recede

FAISALABAD:

Out of the 74 roads damaged by recent flash floods and rainstorms in Faisalabad Division, the provincial Highway Department has successfully restored 38 routes for traffic.

These include five arterial and 33 local roads. Officials confirmed that work on the remaining damaged roads will continue as the floodwaters subside.

The devastating monsoon and riverine floods caused widespread destruction across Faisalabad, Jhang, and Chiniot districts, displacing thousands of families and severely affecting transport networks. The floods, which reached depths of 2.5 to 3.5 feet in some areas, not only inundated homes and farmlands but also damaged road infrastructure, washing away berms and disrupting mobility in the division.

Superintendent Engineer of the Highway Circle Faisalabad, Rana Muhammad Azhar, while speaking to media representatives, said that emergency measures were taken to restore road connectivity on a priority basis.

He explained that the department focused first on arterial roads, which serve as the backbone of traffic flow across the region, followed by the reopening of several important local routes to facilitate residents, farmers, and transport operators.

According to the department, the restored routes include key inter-district roads such as Chiniot–Sargodha Road, Chiniot–Jhang Road, Lallian–Chund Road, Ahmad Nagar–Sial More Road, and Bhowana–Kalri Road.

In addition, a large number of local link roads have also been repaired and reopened.

These roads connect dozens of villages to major markets and highways, ensuring the movement of relief goods, agricultural produce, and emergency services to flood-hit areas.

Rana Azhar stressed that every possible step is being taken to rehabilitate the remaining damaged roads on a fast-track basis.

He added that restoring transport links is crucial not only for day-to-day mobility but also for enabling relief operations and the supply of essential commodities to displaced and affected communities.

In the meantime, detailed surveys are underway in Jhang district, as well as in Kamalia and Tandlianwala tehsils of Toba Tek Singh and Faisalabad respectively, to assess the scale of damages inflicted on livestock, households, and agricultural land by the floods.

These surveys will provide the data required for compensation and the design of long-term rehabilitation and recovery plans.