Every　year,　large　scale　migration　to　urban　metropolitans　in　Pakistan　is　causing　uncontrolled　urban　sprawl　which　is　responsible　for　huge　social　costs　incurred　in　terms　of　traffic　congestion　and　higher　housing　prices　in　these　metropolitans.　Due　to　rapid　increase　in　motorization,　current　transport　infrastructure　of　cities,　such　as　Rawalpindi,　is　insufficient　to　meet　the　ever-increasing　traffic　demand.　This　study　aims　to　identify　prevailing　traffic　congestion　problems　and　signals’　coordination　issues　on　2.7　km　section　of　highway　(from　Qasim　Market　Intersection　to　Pearl　Continental　Intersection)　near　Rawalpindi　Saddar　through　advanced　traffic　simulation　setup.　Different　cost-effective　infrastructure　interventions　are　proposed　and　compared　in　terms　of　potential　for　improvement　(PI)　through　various　attributes　such　as;　travel　time,　fuel　consumption,　operation　and　maintenance　costs　etc.　Simulation　results　for　proposed　infrastructure　interventions　proved　their　adequacy　by　reducing　travel　time,　vehicle　operating　costs　and　environmental　benefits.　However,　providing　signal　coordination　was　shown　to　be　an　effective　solution,　than　infrastructure　interventions,　in　terms　of　cost　and　time　of　project.　©　2020　The　Institution　of　Engineering　and　Technology.