Karachi-Lahore motorway construction to start this month

[Salman]

ISLAMABAD: The construction of one of the dream mega projects of the incumbent government, Karachi-Lahore Motorways will be started this month as work is opening at three places simultaneously on it.

It was decided in the briefing given to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif here at the PM House by National Highways Authority (NHA) Chairman Shahid Ashraf Tarar pertaining to the various projects of the authority. The prime minister expressed the confidence that in 2018 people would see a better Pakistan at the end of mandated period of the incumbent government.

He vowed that major infrastructure projects would be completed including motorways during the tenure of the present government that would improve communication across the country. It will be bringing economic prosperity to the people especially those living in far-flung areas.

The NHA chairman briefing catered new infrastructure projects initiated by this government. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that large-scale infrastructure development projects play a pivotal role in boosting the economy. Such projects act as guarantor of economic and social well-being while boosting employment, reducing cost of accessing markets, providing means of improved opportunities, and ensuring the provision of basic services at the grassroots level. The transport infrastructure can contribute towards poverty reduction, economic growth and inclusive social development, he said.

The prime minister was informed that NHA is following his vision in developing infrastructure projects through private sector on Build Own Operate (BOO) and Build Operate Transfer (BOT) basis. The NHA chairman told the prime minister that for the first time in the history of Pakistan, three BOT projects costing Rs91 billion have been rewarded which will generate Rs366 billion over the concession period.

He said the construction of Karachi-Hyderabad motorway will start in the last week of December while ground breaking of motorway E-35 (Burhan-Havelian) will be done in the last week of November.

The prime minister was pleased to note that Naluchi Bridge in Muzzafarabad and M-4 (Faisalabad-Gojra) are almost complete and would be ready for service in the second week of December. He directed that work on Karachi-Hyderabad motorway and Khanewal-Lahore motorway should be completed as soon as possible without compromising transparency and international standards.

The PM said that Pindi Bhattian to Faisalabad motorway is being planned to be converted from existing four lanes into six-lane. He asked the authority to construct quality road to connect areas of Okara and Bahawalpur with Karachi-Lahore motorway.