Murree Road (Urdu: سڑکِ مری , romanizedmarī roḍ), is a major road that runs from Islamabad and Rawalpindi to Murree in Pakistan. It passes through Rawalpindi's downtown area, and has been a hotspot for various political and social events.

Murree Road
سڑکِ مری
Raza Shah Pahlavi Road (since 1960s)
Murree Road near Kashmir chowk (Islamabad side)
View of Murree road towards Kashmir Chowk in Islamabad
Route information
Length28 km (17 mi)
Major junctions
North endE75 (Diverts to Kashmir road and Murree expressway at Satra Meel Chowk)
Major intersectionsKashmir Chowk
Rawal Dam Interchange
Faizabad Interchange
6th road Flyover
Chandni Chowk Flyover
Committee Chowk
South endT.M Chowk (Continues as Sharif road after crossing Peshawar road)
Location
CountryPakistan
Highway system

Names

edit

It was originally named Raza Shah Pehlavi Road in the 1960s,[1] after Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, who was the first head of state to visit Pakistan.[2] However, it has always been known as Murree Road since it eventually led to the nearby hill station of Murree.

On 20 May 2008, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani announced that the federal government had decided to rename the road after Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated at the nearby Liaqat National Bagh on 27 December 2007.[3] However, the city officials claimed that the change of name had not been notified, and was, therefore, not official. In spite of this, residents and shopkeepers started referring it with its new name.[1]

Route

edit

Nala Lai is located along the road in Rawalpindi. History describes that Nala Lai's water was pure enough to wash clothes, but now it has become polluted with waste water from all sources including factories and houses. Liaquat National Bagh, famous place for political gatherings as well as being the site of the assassinations of two former prime ministers and bystanders, is also located along the Murree Road.

Nine Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus stations also lie along Murree Road.[4]

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Yasin, Aamir (14 March 2014). "Confusion persists over name of Rawalpindi's main artery". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  2. ^ Rana, Muhammad Amir (24 July 2016). "Iran and Pakistan's intertwined history". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Reliving memory of slain PPP icon". The Express Tribune. 25 December 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  4. ^ Abbasi, Kashif; Yasin, Aamir (26 July 2022). "Heavy rain triggers urban flooding in downtown Rawalpindi". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
edit