ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) government was vigorously working on road infrastructure projects worth billions of rupees to reduce poverty, said official sources on Friday.
According to details, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir were being connected through a network of high-quality roads and highways to help accelerate socio-economic development in the country.
The Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) allocation to National Highway Authority (NHA) was raised from Rs. 50 billion in 2011-12 to Rs 112 billion in 2014-15 as transport infrastructure can contribute towards economic growth and social development.
NHA is developing infrastructure projects through private sector on Build Own Operate (BOO) and Build Operate Transfer (BOT) basis.
Three such projects worth Rs. 91 billion would generate Rs. 366 billion over the concession period.
A number of road connectivity projects have also been launched to reap maximum economic and social benefits. 136 km Karachi-Hyderabad motorway with 16 exits was being constructed with Rs 24 Billion. The Project, inaugurated last year was expected to complete within 2.5 years. The M-9 will later be linked to the Karachi-Lahore and Karachi- Gawadar motorways to constitute the longest tract in the motorway network.
Motorway E-35 (Burhan-Havelian) was inaugurated at November 29, 2014. The link is part of Pakistan-China Economic Corridor agreement. The 60 km long expressway will reduce the drive time from Islamabad to Havelian to just 30 minutes and also facilitate Havelian Dry Port project.
Sialkot-Lahore Motorway Project began from Saahowala-Sambrial and lead to Lahore along the banks of two local main canals namely Marala-Ravi-Link (MR Link) Canal through Motra-Daska and Bambaanwala-Ravi-Baidian (BRB) Canal Daska.
Over Rs 20 billion signal-free corridor of Islamabad Highway envisages conversion of 24-kilometre Expressway from Zero Point to GT Road Rawat, besides addition of lanes to ease traffic congestion.
Work on Karachi-Hyderabad motorway and Khanewal-Lahore motorway would be completed soon.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has inaugurated second section of the M4 motorway which will stretch from Faisalabad to Multan upon completion.
Likewise, Pindi Bhattian-Faisalabad Motorway is being planned to be converted from existing four lanes into a six-lane motorway. A good road may be built to connect Okara and Bahawalpur with Karachi-Lahore motorway.
The projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) comprise modern highway and railway transportation system; linking Kashgar in West China, to Khunjrab in the north and onwards to Karachi and Gawadar in the south of Pakistan through multiple routes.
Meanwhile, National Highway Authority (NHA) is set to start construction of 1,274 km road projects with the cost of Rs 878 million.
Various road infrastructure projects were also in different phases including Karachi - Hyderabad Motorway (M-9) - 136 Km; Hoshab- Basima - Sorab Road (454 Km); Khuzdar-Ratodero Road (143 Km);Gwadar -Turbat-Hoshab Road (193 Km; Rehabilitate/ improve 336 km flood affected roads and Hazara Motorway (E-35).
Besides NH&MP is policing on 2,732 kms of the Motorways to ensure and impart road safety education, and to provide instant help to motorists in distress.
The M4 motorway is divided into four segments: the 58km Faisalabad-Gojra section, which has already been opened for traffic; the 62km Gojra-Shorkot section, is expected to be completed by 2019; the 64km Shorkot-Dinpur section and the 45km Khanewal-Multan section.
The government has also started large-scale infrastructure development projects to help boost economy and ensure provision of basic services at the grassroots level.
Government is establishing new public universities; established, upgrading private universities as well as improving relations with foreign varsities, while Higher Education Commission (HEC) initiated various Ph.D. and other scholarship programmes to enhance quality of education in Pakistan.
The PML (N) is committed to increase the budgetary allocation for education to 4% of GDP by 2018 (as per UNESCO target) as against the dismally low 2.6% of GDP spent on education by successive governments.
In consultation with the provinces it is working on initiating a legislation to provide a roadmap for achieving 80% enrolment up to the middle level and 80% universal literacy.
There are also plans to reform the curricula and upgrading the existing educational institutions. Setting up of Danish schools in Punjab, institution of Education Endowment Funds in all the provinces, award of scholarships to needy students for higher education are indicative of the commitment of the government to bring a revolution in education sector in the country.
As part of prime minister's educational reforms scheme 422 schools of Islamabad are being revamped. The project is spear-headed by Maryam Nawaz, a lady known for her impeccable knack for excellence and commitment to the cause of education.
She has already accomplished the revamping 22 schools in Islamabad in a short span of time and the work on rest of schools is likely to be completed by the end of the year.
10,640MW will be produced through projects under CPEC with Chinese investment.
The government has recently signed LNG deal with Qatar and prospects of IP gas pipeline becoming a reality in the near future have also re-emerged with the lifting of sanctions against Iran by US, UN and Pakistan.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.