LAHORE, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 26th Apr, 2026) The Punjab Central Business District Development Authority (CBD Punjab) is planning to establish central business districts in major cities across the province — including Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Multan, and Bahawalpur — following the successful launch of its flagship project in Lahore.
“Building on the strong investor response and success achieved in Lahore, the Authority is undertaking feasibility studies and strategic planning to replicate the CBD model across Punjab,” said Imran Amin, Chief Executive Officer of CBD Punjab, in an interview with Wealth Pakistan.
The expansion aims to centralise economic activity, develop modern commercial hubs in key urban centers, and attract both domestic and international investment. At the same time, it seeks to promote balanced and sustainable urban growth across the province.
According to Amin, the establishment of a network of CBDs will create new engines of economic activity, strengthen Punjab’s overall economic landscape, and position the province as a leading investment destination in the region.
Highlighting the flagship Lahore CBD project, he noted that several major developments are already shaping the city’s urban landscape. These include CBD Route 47, a state-of-the-art infrastructure corridor designed to enhance connectivity and unlock commercial potential; CBD Walk, a pedestrian-friendly lifestyle destination; and CBD Arena, envisioned as a premier venue for large-scale events, entertainment, and business activities.
“The Central Business District Punjab is progressing at full momentum, with both infrastructure and vertical development actively underway, signaling a clear transition from planning to execution,” Amin said.
To ensure a world-class urban design framework, the Authority has engaged internationally acclaimed master planners and attracted leading private developers to deliver premium projects within the district.
Urban affairs experts, while fully supporting the rollout of CBDs in Lahore and other cities, emphasize its role as a spatial planning instrument, whose economic impact depends on the local context. “If these projects are aligned with city-specific value chains — such as export-oriented textile services in Faisalabad, back-office and tech services in Rawalpindi, and logistics and agri-processing in Multan — they can enhance productivity and formalization, thereby contributing to GDP growth,” said Dr. Nasir Javed, former chief executive officer (CEO) of the Punjab Urban Unit.
Talking to Wealth Pakistan, he noted that CBDs have historically played a central role in the economic evolution of major cities in developed countries, particularly in the United States.
“In cities like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, CBDs evolved organically over decades as focal points of finance, commerce, and governance. Their strength lies in deep labor markets, advanced infrastructure, strong institutions, and global connectivity,” he explained.
Dr. Javed emphasized that CBDs in developed countries are not merely clusters of office buildings but comprehensive ecosystems supported by efficient transport systems, regulatory certainty, and high human capital density.
For Pakistan, he concluded, the key lesson is not only to replicate the physical form of Western CBDs but also to adopt their functional principles like mixed-use development, transit-oriented planning, institutional transparency, and alignment with competitive economic sectors
