Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif chaired a meeting at PM House, Islamabad yesterday to review the progress on major road networks across the country. Shahid Ashraf Tarar, Chairman NHA briefed the meeting about the status of work on major road projects being executed simultaneously across the length and breadth of the country.
Currently, the projects under execution across the country include Gojra - Shorkot Motorway, Shorkot - Khanewal Motorway, Lahore - Abdulhakim Motorway, Multan - Sukkur Motorway and Lahore - Sialkot Motorway in Punjab; Hakla - D I Khan Expressway, Hazara Motorway, Lowari Tunnel, Havelian - Thakot Motorway, Takhtbhai Flyover and Torkham - Jalalabad Additional Carriageway in KPK; Karachi- Hyderabad Motorway, Lyari Expressway in Sindh; Zhob - Mughalkot (CPEC Western Corridor), Hoshab - Khuzdar (Western Corridor), Qilla Saifullah - Waigum Rud (N-70) and Khuzdar - ShadadKot in Balochistan while Link Roads for New Islamabad International Airport (NIIA) in the Federal Capital.
The meeting was informed that for the first time in history of the country, an investment of Rs 1000 billion has been made by the present government for construction of state of the art road networks. The participants were informed about strict adherence to various mechanisms in place for ensuring standards, timely completion and quality as well as utmost transparency in the execution of the major road projects.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif observed that during the current financial year, Rs 334 billion have been allocated for construction of major roads network compared to a mere Rs 65 billion annual allocation made during the previous governments. This huge allocation speaks volumes of our focus and initiatives for connectivity of remote and neglected areas with the central and major cities of the country, the prime minister stated.
These initiatives will generate huge economic activities and employment opportunities on one hand and shrink the development gap between the less developed and developed areas, he said.
Besides, it will further consolidate the feeling of togetherness and bonds of unity among the residents of all the provinces and regions of the country, added the prime minister. All the areas of the country will be connected with six and four lanes motorways depending on the load of traffic; this initiative is a significant step towards regional and international connectivity, he expressed with satisfaction. The completion of road connectivity projects across the country will contribute around 1 to 1.5 per cent increase in the GDP, he further added. -PR
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