Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Thursday said that work on all projects related to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), including the western route, is ahead of the schedule, which would play pivotal role in the socio-economic development, once completed.
Abbasi who flanked by Chairman National Highway Authority (NHA) Jawad Rafique Malik was addressing his last press conference as the Prime Minister, said that Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) government added 1785km motorways into the network and increased it from 575km in 2013 to 2,360km in 2018.
He said that road infrastructure projects worth Rs 1.74 trillion have been completed or have been ongoing or have been in planning and procurement stages since 2013, which guarantee the socio-economic development of the country.
The NHA has completed 35 projects worth Rs 498 billion with a length of 2813km since 2013. Twenty-five major highway projects of 1460km length are ongoing and would be completed with Rs 445 billion.
PM Abbasi said that 21 major projects of 3200km are in planning and procurement stages and would be completed with a cost Rs 800 billion. These projects were started by the federal government and are in all provinces, he added. He further said that Metro Bus Project connecting with New Islamabad International Airport would be completed next month. He said that these projects were made possible only through the vision of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
He said that several sick projects including Lowari Tunnel, Lyari Expressway and many projects in Balochistan were revived during the tenure of the PML-N government.
The PM said today's Pakistan is different from that of 2013 as projects of critical importance were completed during this period.
He negated the rumors of slowing down the pace of work on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects while saying that work has been expedited as several coal projects, projects in Gwadar and transmission line up-gradation project have been inaugurated.
Abbasi said that CPEC projects and motorways will bring progress and prosperity in the country as well as region. Enhanced connectivity will augment economic activities across the country, he added. He said that most of the projects are being carried out in Balochsitan province.
The chairman NHA said that Hakla-DI Khan Motorway - 290 km western route - would be completed in 2019. He further said that Rs 252 billion were saved due to transparent bidding process.
The PM said that general election would be held on July 25, and there would not be a single day delay in this regard. He said that all the issues of Election Commission of Pakistan including census were resolved during his government's tenure.
Replying to a question he said that three month bonus was announced only for Secretariat employees which is a routine process.
Replying to another question, the PM said that Ali Jehangir Siddiqui's name was proposed by him who is neither his relative nor a business partner.