ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has directed to start the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway project soon.
Chairing a review meeting on the progress of ongoing construction projects of the National Highway Authority (NHA) in Islamabad on Thursday, the prime minister also directed to start the work on Karakoram Highway’s Thaha Kot-Rai Kot Section, Babusar Tunnel and Khuzdar Kuchlak Road at the earliest.
وزیرِ اعظم شہباز شریف کی زیرِ صدارت نیشنل ہائی وے اتھارٹی کے جاری شاہراہوں کے تعمیراتی منصوبوں پر پیش رفت پر جائزہ اجلاس
وزیرِ اعظم شہباز شریف نے سکھر حیدر آباد موٹروے منصوبے کو جلد شروع کرنے کی ہدایت کردی pic.twitter.com/IEOZ1Bq1yx
— Prime Minister’s Office (@PMO_PK) June 16, 2022
The prime minister said that the procedure for awarding contracts for projects should be made more transparent. He said that the Country cannot afford further stalemate in development projects.
Shahbaz Sharif said that the development journey in the last four years was halted due to criminal negligence.
Moreover, he asked the concerned quarters to get assistance from Pakistani embassies for the verification of international companies.
The prime minister said that it is the responsibility of the concerned agencies to make every effort to save the time and money of the Country and the nation.
In the meeting, the prime minister was apprised of the details regarding the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway project.
It was informed that the M-6 Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway is an important section of the Karachi-Peshawar Motorway, the work on which was stalled due to the slowness of the previous government.
The 306-kilometer-long six-lane motorway will pass through six districts with 15 interchanges.
The establishment of the motorway will reduce travel time as well as save fuel and facilitate access to Karachi ports for exports from all over Pakistan.
The work on the project will start within six months and will be completed in 2.5 years.
Regarding the 250-kilometer Karakoram Highway (Thaha Kot Rai Kot Section), the meeting was informed that work is underway on its feasibility report which will be completed within seven months, which will increase the flow of commercial traffic between Pakistan and China.
With reference to Babusar Tunnel, the meeting was informed that apart from the tunnel, a complete section of 66 kilometers road would be constructed and the existing road would be rehabilitated. Snow galleries will also be built on this section of the highway for the smooth flow of traffic during winter snowfall.
The prime minister termed the project as crucial for the promotion of tourism in the Northern Areas and directed to complete the project in accordance with international standards.
In the meeting, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif was also briefed in detail about the procurement procedure.
The prime minister formed a nine-member Committee – consisting of the Federal Minister for Communications, the Minister for Housing, the Managing Director PPRA, and the Chairman PEC – to formulate comprehensive proposals to improve and streamline the procurement process.
The prime minister directed the committee to submit its action plan within a month.
