Roads have a direct linkage to economic progress: Ibad

Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan has said that roads have a direct linkage to economic progress of any country. "Laying of their network, reducing distances and constructing farm to farm roads is included in the government priorities", he said while inaugurating the double track "Sassui Bridge" at National Highway here on Monday.
Federal Communication Minister Shamim Siddiqi and National Highway Authority Chairman Major General Farrukh Javed also addressed the ceremony.
The Governor appreciated the NHA and said it has build up a good credibility for itself by carrying out quality work and completing the same ahead of schedule.
"It has not compromised on quality and its work is acknowledged in the whole of Pakistan," the Governor observed.
Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad said NHA's impressive performance is a step towards government's commitment for good governance for which Federal Communication Minister Shamim Siddiqi and NHA Chairman Farrukh Javed, alongwith their entire team, deserve felicitation and compliments.
He said the government was seriously working for strengthening its various organisations. A political system exists in the country and government has finalised preparations for holding free, fair and transparent local bodies elections in the country and these would be held in a peaceful environment.
He said today past hustle and bustle of Karachi is back again and there is no reason for any worsening of conditions, adding that worsened conditions are not in the government interest, but these benefit the opposition.
Therefore, he said, if conditions go bad then opposition would be held responsible and blamed for it.
The Governor pointed out that Election Commission is an independent institution and government has invited the foreign observers to monitor the elections.
The government is performing its responsibilities honestly and it is for the opposition to extend helping hand to government in maintaining peace.
He said if this government had pursued the wrong path of the past governments, it could have dissolved the local bodies institutions, removed the nazims or suspended them two years back when it came into power and had all the powers with it.
It could have done everything, but took no step although the local government institutions comprised of opponents of the present provincial government, and rather these institutions were strengthened and funds released to them without any hindrance so that people could be served and facilities provided to them.
In fact, the government introduced a silent revolution in the shape of local government system, Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad said.