The Federal Minister for Communications, Dr Arbab Alamgir, has said that an integrated communications sector would ensure national prosperity and unity. "It is top priority of the present government to complete all development projects under NHA, according to international standards".
He said that Kot Abdul Malik Interchange would be opened for public within 15 days, and Lahore to Nankana Sahib Expressway would be completed in two years. He was talking to media persons after attending a meeting of National Assembly's standing committee on communications here on Wednesday.
The standing committee meeting was presided over by Saeed Ahmad Zafar, which was attended by its members Ghulam Mujtaba Kharal, Sajjadul Hasan, Muhammad Safdar, Abdul Majeed Khanan Khel, Dr Aresh Kumar, Dr Darshan, Salahuddine and Sadruddine Shah Rashdi.
State Minister for Communications Imtiaz Safdar Warraich, Federal Secretary Communications Sharif Ahmad Khan, NHA Chairman Altaf Ahmad, IG Motorways Police Dr Waseem Kausar, GM, NHA, Punjab, North, Shahid Ahsan and Planning and Development Board Chairman Javed Aslam were also present in the meeting.
The minister said that the Agenda of the meeting was to make Kot Abdul Malick Interchange operational, completion of the under-construction Lahore-Nankana Sahib Expressway, and other constructions projects in Punjab. About the opening of the road, he said that Lahore-Nankana Expressway would be operational soon. Punjab government would provide assistance and the Planning and Development Board Chairman took its responsibility in this regard he added. He said that a subcommittee was constituted to monitor completion of the 63 km long Lahore-Nankana Expressway in time, which will cost 20 million rupees.
The subcommittee will comprise Dr Aresh Kumar, Dr Darshan, Sajjadul Hasan, Mujtaba and Muhammad Safdar. The committee will hold a meeting every 10 days to get update with regard to the pace of the work on the said Expressway and submit it to the standing committee, whereas extensive contacts would be made with local and foreign investors for construction of world standard restaurants and hotels on this world class highway and for its speedy construction. A subcommittee was also set up with regard to the construction of E-35 highway.
The committee approved a timeline of 15 days for construction, repair and maintenance of Okara Bypass. The members also said that a proper mechanism would be devised to prevent theft of fencing on N-5 and the Motorways.
The committee emphasised to prevent overloading on the highways. It should be noted the N-5 is the maximum pressure of overloading and traffic. It was also proposed that initially the weight stations on the Motorways should be handed over to the Motorway Police. It was also decided in the meeting that single-axle vehicles should be stopped taking the road by taking the goods forwarding agents into confidence.
The committee urged that maximum facilities should be provided to travellers and on the highways and motorways and all matters related to them should be carried out efficiently. The members of the committee will visist Kot Abdul Malick Interchange and other ongoing projects in the Punjab on Thursday.