ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that the government believes in the speedy completion of development projects without making any compromise on their quality. He said that many things need probe in country but if we will do this the whole time will be spent in these things and development projects could not be started.
He said that there are so many scandals that the more is said about this it will be less. He said that the time will come when these things will be taken to their conclusion. He said that we did not want to divert focus from the development projects. He said that he is used to say time and again that in past the projects which should have been completed in two years were not completed for 20 years. He said that the Hazara motorway project will be completed on 14th August. He said that the government has put many sick projects on the right path. He said that Neelum Jhelum power project will start functioning in February next year.
He was talking to the media in Islamabad on Saturday after performing the ground breaking of Islamabad metro bus link to be constructed between Peshawar Morr to New Islamabad International Airport. Nawaz Sharif pointed out modern infrastructure including airports, highways, motorways and transport system are the hallmark of a dignified nation. He said that these projects are vital to give an impetus to the economic growth as these lure the industrialists to invest in the country. Modern road infrastructure also facilitates the peasants to transport their products to the markets.
The prime minister regretted the delays that were witnessed by different projects in the past saying that the government injected the necessary resources to revive and complete these projects. Referring to the metro bus project, he said that earlier it was not part of the new Islamabad airport project. It has been included with a view to facilitate the access of commuters to and from the airport. He said that the metro bus project will be completed with the new airport simultaneously.
He said that the project would complete simultaneously with the airport and would be a great convenience for the middle class and allow them quality air-conditioned transport service. The prime minister to a question said that the quality of all projects were the hallmark of his government. He mentioned that the high quality construction of the Hazara motorway project and said that there would be no compromise in any project.
He said that all ongoing projects were being completed in shortest possible time.
The prime minister also mentioned the Neelum Jhelum and Lowari Tunnel projects that have been dragging on for years and added that his government was giving priority to mega communications and infrastructure projects so as to encourage foreign investors and speed up industrialisation.
He said that the people will get best possible facilities at their doorsteps, once these projects complete. The prime minister directed that at no cost the quality should be compromised. He said that the project must have the quality of motorways for long lasting life. When asked about those who were critical of the new roads, the prime minister said “May Allah show them right direction.”
To a question, he said that his government, unlike the governments in the past, believed in transparency. He said that there have been mega corruption scams in the past where huge national resources were wasted. He said that all these matters would reach a logical conclusion.
On the occasion, the prime minister was briefed about the metro bus project. The National Highways Authority (NHA) Chairman told the prime minister that all contractors are mobilized on all the four phases of the project. The prime minister directed that motorway like quality should be ensured in the construction of the road. The metro bus link will be completed by NHA in four phases with a total length of 25.6 kilometers, nine bus stations, twelve bridges and eleven underpasses.
The prime minister also inspected new Islamabad airport. On the occasion, he was briefed about the pace of work on the project to be completed by 14th August. NHA Chairman Shahid Afzal Tarar briefed the prime minister and informed him that the project would be completed by August 14. He said that the task was assigned on February 11 this year.
95 percent work on terminal building has been completed with a capacity of handling 4500 passengers at a time. State of the art fifteen aircraft docking stations are complete. International standard air traffic control system is being installed at the airport.
Advisor to Prime Minister on Aviation Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan Abbasi briefed the prime minister regarding the construction of New Islamabad Airport.
