Continuty in policies linked with overall development of country: PM

KARACHI , Jan 28 (APP):Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Sunday said the continuity in the development policies of the
PML-N government would be ensured as these were aimed at the collective benefits of all countrymen.
He said changes in the governments should have no bearing upon such policies, initiated for the
collective progress and prosperity of the country.
The prime minister was addressing the inauguration ceremony of the North Bound Carriageway which was part of much awaited Lyari Expressway project.
The entire expressway became operational immediately after its inauguration. The total length
of project including ramps is 38 km with a construction cost of Rs. 10 billion.
It includes 4 interchanges at Sorab Goth, Manghopir, Sir Shah Suleman and Maripur. Besides,
20 major bridges are also part of the project.
The project carries immense importance in reducing the ever-growing traffic volume inside
the city. The traffic coming from port and Super Highway (now M9) will use the expressway to
reach their destinations without entering into the city.
It will also reduce the flood damages to the areas along the river and add to the environmental
protection of the entire area.
The prime minister said democratic system in the country would continue and the electorate
would decide about the formation of new government in the upcoming general election to be held
in July.
He said his government was ensuring continuity in the execution of all development projects,
adding with united efforts by all the stakeholders, the issues confronting port city Karachi, would
ultimately be resolved.
With devotion and hard work, such objectives could be achieved, the prime minister said and
referred to the Quaid’s message .
It was a distinction of the PML-N government which had always taken the lead by initiating and
executing the mega development projects across the country, he added.
A vast network of 1700 km motorway with six lanes was being completed, he said and told the
gathering that during his recent visit to Davos, certain countries expressed their wonder over the
completion of such huge network of motorways in the shortest time.
Governor Sindh Muhammad Zubair, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Minister of State for
Information and Broadcasting Mariyum Aurangzeb, Adviser on Finance Miftah Ismail and other high
officials were also present on the occasion.
The prime minister assured his government’s all-out support for the development of Karachi and
resolution of its issues. He said Karachi was a hub of commercial activities and it was like a heart
for all the business and commercial activities of the country.
He said the projects, being completed under the federal government, were supplementing the
provincial government’s uplift schemes and these should not be viewed as running parallel to
each others.
He said all were united to resolve Karachi issues and linked its development with the rest of
the country without which the country could not achieve progress and prosperity.
The prime minister said his Advisor on Finance Miftah Ismail had been given a task to work on
the development projects of Karachi.
About the north bound carriageway of Lyari expressway, the prime minister said it would reduce
the vehicular congestion and control Lyari nullah flooding.
He also expressed his pleasure to inaugurate the carriageway which had hit snags in the past
fifteen years.
The prime minister said under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), different energy
and infrastructure projects were under completion which would change the dynamics for Pakistan
and the whole region in the context of economic prosperity and vast connectivity.
The Central Asian countries and Afghanistan were also keenly witnessing the completion of
CPEC which was part of Chinese government’s One Belt, One Road signature project, he added.
The prime minister expressed the hope that CPEC projects would generate huge job opportunities.
He also lauded hard work and devotion of Director General Frontier Works Organization Lt. Gen.
Muhammad Afzal and Chairman National Highway Authority Jawwad Rafique Malik.
The Chairman NHA briefed that the carriageway was a difficult project due to certain issues but
was successfully completed, connecting it with other road projects of CPEC.
He said about 6 million population would benefit with the opening of this carriageway, reducing
the hours-long travel to hardly 16 minutes and about 35 thousand vehicles would use this route on
daily basis.