The Prime Minister said that projects which are near completion should be completed on fast track basis
Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has urged National Highway Authority (NHA) to accord priority to communication projects in Balochistan so that it could be integrated with rest of the country by accelerating economic activity. He made these remarks while chairing a meeting to review the progress of Mega projects of NHA in Islamabad on Saturday. He said that projects which are near completion should be completed on fast track basis so that the burden on PSDP is minimized. He maintained early completion of these projects‚ is essential to minimize the impact of inflation. The Prime Minister said that government gives highest priority to development of road infrastructure‚ essential for economic prosperity of Pakistan. The government‚ he said‚ during the past four and half years had initiated a number of road development projects which are now near completion. Referring to the work on Atta Abad Lake project‚ the Prime Minister said the project came under discussion during his visit to China. The Chinese premier assured that government of China will ship all necessary equipment to Pakistan to ensure that work is carried out as per international standards and completed timely. He directed Ministry of Communication to expedite the work on Lowari Tunnel. It is a very strategic project as its completion would open access to Tajkistan‚ an important Central Asian Country. The Minister for Communication‚ Dr. Arbab Alamgir apprised the Prime Minister that NHA has initiated 79 mega projects amounting to over 600 billion rupees across the country. Out of which 33 projects are being executed in Punjab‚ 17 in Sindh‚ 14 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa‚ 12 in Balochistan and 3 in Gilgiit- Baltistan and AJ&K. The Minister apprised the meeting that the on-going mega projects of Faisalabad-Khanewal-Multan M-4 in Punjab‚ Lyari Express in Sindh‚ Naran-Jhalkand N-15 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ‚ Kalat-Quetta-Chaman N-25 in Balochistan and West bank Bypass in Muzaffarabad would be completed by the end of this year.
