KARACHI: Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said Sunday that the continuity of the development policies of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government will be ensured for the collective benefit of the entire nation.
He said that policies that ensured the collective progress and prosperity of Pakistan should be allowed to continue from one government to another. The prime minister said this while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the northbound carriageway which was an important part of the long-awaited Lyari Expressway project.
The entire expressway became operational immediately after the inauguration ceremony concluded. The total length of the project, including the ramps, is 38 kilometres and the project had been constructed at a cost of Rs 10 billion. It also includes four interchanges at Sohrab Goth, Manghopir, Sir Shah Suleman and Maripur. Besides, around 20 major bridges were also made a part of the project.
The project would prove beneficial in reducing the ever-growing vehicular traffic problem inside the port city. The traffic coming from the port and Super Highway (now M9) would now use the expressway without entering the city. It would also reduce the flood damage in the areas lying adjacent to the river.
On the occasion, the PM Abbasi said that his government would ensure the continuation of all development projects, while adding that the issues confronting Karachi would ultimately be resolved with the support of all stakeholders. With devotion and hard work, such objectives could be achieved, the prime minister said. A vast network of 1,700 kilometres six-lane motorway was also nearing completion, he informed.
Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb, Adviser on Finance Miftah Ismail and other high officials were also present on the occasion.
Abbasi assured his government’s all-out support for the development of the port city. He said the port city was a hub of commercial activities and it was the heart of most commercial activities in Pakistan.
He said all projects being currently completed under the supervision of the federal government were supplementing the provincial government’s uplift schemes and these should not be viewed as running parallel to each other. He also said that his Advisor on Finance Miftah Ismail had been given the task to oversee the progress of development projects in Karachi.
Speaking in connection with the newly inaugurated northbound carriageway, the prime minister said it would reduce the vehicular congestion inside the city and also help in controlling Lyari nullah flooding during monsoon season.
He further said that under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), different energy and infrastructure projects were being constructed which would change the dynamics for Pakistan and the whole region in the context of economic prosperity and connectivity. The Central Asian countries and Afghanistan were also awaiting the completion of CPEC to reap its benefits, he added.
He also lauded the hard work and devotion of Frontier Works Organisation Director General Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal and National Highway Authority Chairman Jawwad Rafique Malik. The NHA chairman briefed the PM that the carriageway was a difficult project to undertake due to certain issues, adding that the project was completed successfully by effectively negotiating the hurdles.
He said that around six million people would benefit from this carriageway which would reduce their daily commuting time to 16 minutes on average, adding that around 35,000 vehicles would also use this route on a daily basis.
