PM performs groundbreaking of Sialkot-Kharian motorway project

Says project important, viable for promoting country's connectivity to industrial area

PM performs groundbreaking of Sialkot-Kharian motorway project
PM performs groundbreaking of Sialkot-Kharian motorway project

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Imran Khan performed on Thursday the groundbreaking of the 69-kilometre long Sialkot-Kharian motorway project in Islamabad.

Speaking at the ceremony, the premier said the project was important and viable in terms of promoting the country's connectivity to the industrial area.

He added that it was important to incentivise the industrial sector for creation of wealth so as to lessen the country's debt.

The government was focusing on easing the process of doing business and eliminating hurdles in the way of small and medium enterprises, he added.

The prime minister appreciated the idea of involving the private sector in the motorway project, saying this will help the government divert resources to other areas.

The premier was confident that more private capital would flow into road infrastructure projects in the future.

"The Swat motorway has opened the whole area to tourism," he added. "Pakistan has immense tourism potential, but the potential was not developed in the past. Projects such as the second phase of Swat motorway and Dir Motorway will help encourage both domestic and foreign tourism at the picturesque places," the premier observed.

Read Motorway police start online checking of route permits

Earlier, Minister for Communications Murad Saeed gave a detailed overview of the road infrastructure projects executed over the last three years.

"We have built 1,753 kilometres of roads as compared to 645 kilometres of roads constructed by the PML-N government in three years," the minister said.

Saeed added that the ministry planned to start 19 more road infrastructure projects, including the Kharian-Rawalpindi motorway and Sukkur-Hyderabad motorway during the current fiscal year.

"Bids have been received for the construction of the second phase of the Swat motorway. Construction work on Dir motorway will also be started this year," he added.

The minister added that the National Highway Authority (NHA) was also focusing on the maintenance and repair of existing road infrastructure.

Regarding the NHA's revenue, Saeed said that it had been increased by Rs87 billion. "We have also recovered land worth Rs5 billion," he added.