PM comes down hard on critics
* Nawaz says those propagating in media against government should go through PSDP to know about development initiatives
APP

GOJRA: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday said infrastructure projects across the country were part of a national agenda of prosperity that needed support instead of politicking for petty gains.

“Instead of leg-pulling and making these projects controversial, all should back these projects of national importance,” the prime minister said in his address at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Gojra-Shorkot section of the M-4 motorway.

The prime minister said doing politics on mega development projects was tantamount to harming the country, adding that such personal agendas should not interfere with the national development.

Nawaz said those propagating in media against the government should go through the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and get a realization about the focus of the government on development ventures. He said despite financial constraints, the development projects were being completed on priority to facilitate the masses, which would result in enhanced business activity.

The prime minister said this region had immense potential and Pakistan could exploit it fully by expanding outreach of its industrial and agriculture produce.

He recalled that during the recent visit of Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon to Islamabad, it was agreed to link Pakistan with Central Asia on priority to boost regional trade.

He said soon the local government representatives would join the path to prosperity and would contribute for the welfare of masses.

The prime minister termed an effective communication network vital for strong economy and said motorways would not only link distant areas of the country but would also bring them at par with developed areas.

He expressed satisfaction that the work on 62-kilometre-long Gojra-Shorkot section of the Faisalabad-Multan motorway had been started and said the M-4 motorway would upgrade the country’s vital north-south road network for the promotion of economic growth, job creation and regional connectivity.

The prime minister said the work on Shorkot-Khanewal motorway would start soon and would be completed in short period of time.

The prime minister mentioned that the Faisalabad-Gojra section of M-4 had been completed with high quality construction work. He said the work on Khanewal-Multan section had already been completed. He said the industrial products of Faisalabad could now reach Karachi through this route and simultaneously the agricultural produce of South Punjab could also be transported up-country.

He said the work on Hyderabad-Karachi section of the Karachi-Lahore motorway was already in progress. He said motorways would increase connectivity and bring the people of all areas further closer.

He said the travel time from Karachi-Lahore motorway would be around eight to 10 hours with much reduced costs as compared to air fare between the two cities.

The prime minister termed the Lahore-Islamabad motorway a national asset and said its upgradation was underway which was due for last seven years. He regretted about the apathy of previous governments who did not pay attention to its overlay and said the development works should not face a halt due to change of governments.

The prime minister said the government was pursuing all development projects with honesty and transparency to save the public money. He mentioned that the Gojra-Shorkot section of M-4, which had been estimated at Rs 21 billion, would now be completed with Rs 17 billion, saving Rs 4 billion from national exchequer.

He said Rs 115 billion had been saved on installation of three projects of Liquefied Natural Gas in the country. He said the country would experience an era of prosperity with a huge investment of 46 billion dollars in shape of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He said a network of roads would be completed in Balochistan and would connect Peshawar to Gwadar through Quetta. Also, the Hazara would be connected through motorway with Khunjerab and Kashgar.

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

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