- PM hints at past’s mega corruption scams, waste of national resources
- ‘Government committed to timely completion of projects with quality’
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Saturday performed ground-breaking of the metro bus link for Islamabad’s new international airport and said that his government was committed to timely completion of projects, while ensuring quality.
Talking to journalists here, he said that his government, unlike the governments of the past, believed in transparency. He said there have been mega corruption scams in the past where huge national resources were wasted. He said all these matters would reach a logical conclusion.
He also said that the metro project was not part of the new Islamabad international airport, but was added on his direction. 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.
To a question, the prime minister said that the quality of all projects were the hallmark of his government. He mentioned 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.
He also mentioned the Neelum Jhelum and the 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 would get best possible facilities at their doorsteps, once these projects completed.
Nawaz 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, he said that may Almighty Allah show them right direction.
National Highway Authority (NHA) Chairman Shahid Ashraf 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. The Rs 18 billion metro bus link would be completed by the National Highway Authority in four phases with a total length of dedicated 25.6km, nine bus stations, 12 bridges and 11 underpasses.
He said that the contractors have already mobilised equipment on site and work was going on, at a fast pace. The new metro link is being constructed along the 10-lane wide Kashmir Highway from the Peshawar Morr to the New Islamabad International Airport.
Prime Minister Nawaz also visited the state-of-the-art under-construction building of the New Islamabad International Airport wherein he was briefed about the work progress on the project and features of the facility. The prime minister directed the Civil Aviation Authority to ensure early completion of the new airport without compromising quality of the work.
Civil Aviation Authority Director General Asim Suleiman received the prime minister along with other officials. The prime minister was accompanied by his Adviser on Aviation Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan and NHA chairman. Prime Minister Nawaz visited various sections of the building including passengers’ terminal, different counters and other sections. Almost 95 percent work on the project has been completed and the facility is likely to start operations by July this year.