Since May 11, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government tried to create an impression of financial prudence by introducing “austerity measures” to conserve resources.
However, in its first direction to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) regarding a “development plan”, the PM house asked the civic agency to reinitiate work on a project aimed to give the prime minister direct and secure access from the PM Secretariat to a heliport located at President House.
According to media reports, the plan covers the construction of a half-kilometre long road between the PM Secretariat and the Presidency. Reliable sources at the PM Secretariat said that on Monday, CDA officials visited the area where the road is to be constructed.
“The project aims to provide a hassle-free approach to the heliport for the prime minister,” the official added.
A senior CDA Planning Wing official confirmed the development but asked not to be named. “The military secretary to the prime minister contacted the CDA chief recently and asked for the road to be built,” the official added.
He said that the project was in its initial stage and the authority had only completed a survey for the proposed road.
“The road will be around 600 metres in length while its width will be approximately 10 metres. It will go from the PM Secretariat and pass north of the Supreme Court’s car park before getting to the Presidency,” he added.
A senior Engineering Wing official said costing for the project has yet to be done, but estimated the total cost of the project would be around Rs10 million. He added that a similar plan was floated in 2009 by former premier Yousuf Raza Gilani.
“PM Gilani also wanted direct access to the heliport from his office, but the project was withdrawn for reasons unknown,” he said, adding that the cost of the project at that time was estimated at around Rs3.8 million.
“Since 2009, the cost of construction material and manpower witnessed a record 300 per cent increase. Now in 2013, the project will cost between Rs10 and Rs12 million,” said the official, who enjoys 30 years of experience with road infrastructure.
However, the official , who visited the site thrice in 2009, said a land depression on the north side of the Presidency could further escalate the cost of the project as the ground will have to be levelled before a road is built.
Senior PML-N leader Senator Mushahidullah Khan declined to answer the question about PML-N government claims of austerity and the actual situation. “As I am unaware of the project, I can’t comment.”