'Govt to overcome power outages by end 2017'

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday the government will overcome the power loadshedding problem by the end of 2017.

Addressing the ground-breaking ceremony of a signal free corridor of the Islamabad Highway, the prime minister said international standard infrastructure was being developed to put Pakistan on the track of development.

He said the Rs22 billion project of widening the existing Expressway to a 10-lane signal-free road would serve as a major link to the federal capital with the rest of the country through the Grand Trunk Road, shorten travel time and help cut fuel costs.

“Pakistan today is at a take-off position with investment pledges of $46 billion under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor,” Nawaz said. He said funding for development projects like the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus were being made without disturbing the annual Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). He rejected claims of the metro bus critics that funds for the project were diverted from other projects.

The premier said his government was giving equal importance to addressing the problem of loadshedding. Nawaz said the government had never claimed it would end loadshedding in six months. He said this year there was less loadshedding as compared to the last year. He mentioned a number of ongoing projects, including the 960MW Neelum-Jhelum project, 1,400MW Tarbella-IV and 1,000MW LNG project that would help address the issue. He said his government had to its credit the lowering the tariff of electricity by Rs5.32 per unit.

He mentioned that the upgrading of the M-2 Motorwayneeded its mandatory 10-year maintenance but it was neglected and his government had to undertake the project. He said the needed maintenance of the M-2 Motorway should have been done in 2008.

He expressed satisfaction over the ground-breaking of the long-awaited signal-free project of the Expressway and termed it another significant addition to mega development projects of the capital.

The premier said the project was very important as the widening of the Expressway from Zero Point to Rawat would add more lanes than the Motorway. He emphasised on carrying out the project following the international standards and said Islamabad would experience a remarkable improvement in infrastructure in the next two to three years. He also announced plans for linking Rawat with the M-2 Motorway to provide an alternative route to Rawalpindi and Islamabad. He said the condition of other roads in the capital would also be improved with proper marking of lanes and signage of international standards.

The prime minister directed MNA Dr Tariq Fazal to coordinate with the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on the project. He said plans were under way for the construction of an overhead bridge and a bypass at Bhara Kahu which would facilitate the commuters heading to Murree. He expressed dissatisfaction over the quality of work on the Murree Expressway. He said the project was the brainchild of the previous government, but regretted that the quality of the project was not up to the mark. He also mentioned plans for a new road to link Muzaffarabad with Mirpur, Azad Kashmir along River Jhelum and said similar road projects were underway in Balochistan and other areas.

Nawaz regretted that the project of the Lahore Airport was not carried out as per its design. He said the project size was cut into half, yet the cost remained the same. He said separate terminals would be constructed for international and domestic flights at the airport.

About the Kashmir Highway in the federal capital, he pointed out that the project was overdue and stressed accountability of those responsible for delay and corruption in the project. He said no corruption scandals would be tolerated in projects of public importance.

Nawaz said he had asked Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to focus on more development projects in Rawalpindi. He said the Rawalpindi city too would be developed on par with Islamabad.

Earlier, the prime minister unveiled the plaque of the project at the Shakarparian Parade Ground.The first phase includes construction of a four-kilometre signal-free eight-lane road from Zero Point to Faizabad, and construction of an interchange at I-8 intersection that would be completed within four months at a cost of Rs1.6 billion. The second phase from Faizabad to Koral, stretching over eight kilometres would have two interchanges and three underpasses while the third phase would include upgrading of 12-kilometre road from Koral to Rawat, having four bridges and a number of interchanges. Service roads would be constructed on either side of the Expressway.

The completion of the 24-kilometre-long signal free corridor will reduce the travelling distance from Zero Point to Rawat by 20 to 25 minutes. The 24-kilometre-long section of the existing road from Zero Point is a mix of 10 to four lanes road, including several intersections. The worst and the longest section of the road is from the airport to the Rawat Chowk, notorious for accidents, vehicle breakdowns due to poor condition of the road and daily traffic jams.

The project involves widening of sections of the Islamabad Expressway from Zero Point to Rawat and also includes construction of interchanges and several underpasses to provide easy access to a number of housing colonies on either side of the road.

Chairman CDA Maroof Afzal said the project comprises six interchanges, including cloverleaf interchange at I-8 intersection, interchange at Sohan, cloverleaf interchange at the Khanna intersection, Airport Chowk and a partial cloverleaf interchange on the GT Road as well as upgrading of the Faizabad Interchange.He said in addition, six vehicular underpasses and overpasses would also be constructed at different busy locations.