All areas of country to be connected with six, four lane motorways: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said that all the areas of the country will be connected with six and four lanes motorways depending on load of traffic, ARY News reported.

Chairing a meeting to review progress on major road networks across the country at PM House, the Prime Minister said the completion of road connectivity projects across the country would contribute around one to 1.5 percent increase in the GDP.

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 execution of the major road projects.

The prime minister observed that during the current financial year, Rs 334 billion had 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.

Prime Minister Sharif said these initiatives would generate huge economic activities and employment opportunities on one hand and shrink the development gap between the less developed and developed areas.
Besides, he added it would further consolidate the feeling of togetherness and bonds of unity among the residents of all the provinces and regions of 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.

He said 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.