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Friday March 29, 2024

Lyari Expressway completed after 15 years delay with Rs23 bn more cost

By Azeem Samar
January 29, 2018

KARACHI: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said on Sunday that democracy will continue to flourish in the country as the next general elections will be held in July this year and whosoever chosen by the masses would get the opportunity to form the next government in the country. The prime minister stated this while addressing a ceremony to inaugurate the north-bound track of the much-delayed Lyari Expressway project in Karachi. the Lyari Expressway project has been completed after 15 years delay with 23 bn more cost.

The PM said on the occasion that continuity of the democratic regime was of utmost important for development of the country as policies to be pursued by the successive governments should be formulated while rising above political considerations.

He said that whosoever given the opportunity to form the next government should keep in mind that ongoing schemes and policies conceived for development of the country should not be altered with change of political leadership.

He said the country would make progress with continuity of the present political system. He said that development of the country was inter-linked with continuation of democracy. He said the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was an important project as under it a number of roads, airports, harbours, special economic zones were being constructed in the country along with revamping of the railway track.

He said the country would enter the era of progress with abundance of job opportunities for its people with the completion of the CPEC project. He said that CPEC would not just play its due part in the development of Pakistan but that of the entire adjoining region. The prime minister hoped that the current process of development would continue in the country.

Abbasi said that he was pleased to inaugurate the Lyari Expressway project as for the last 15 years he had been listening about completion of the carriageway project. He said the project was completed owing to the efforts of chairman of NHA (National Highway Authority) and DG of FWO (Frontier Works Organization).

He said that completion of this project would ensure fast commuting facilities to people of the city. He commended the services of director-general of FWO, which is working on a number of development projects in the country.

He said that a number of problems had obstructed the completion of the Lyari Expressway project including physical encroachments and resettlement of people living all along the route of the project. He said that the expressway project had been completed owing to the services of Sindh Governor Mohammd Zubair and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. He said removal of encroachments had always been a thorny issue owing to implications of law.

He said the initial cost of Lyari Expressway project was Rs5.5 billion while later the project got completed with an increased allocation of Rs10 billion. He said the final cost of a development project was bound to increase if in case its completion was delayed. “No matter this project got delayed but this project now stands completed after 15 years,” said the PM.

He said that completion of the M-9 section of motorway between Karachi and Hyderabad had entered its final stage. He said it had been the practice of the government of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) to start construction of a project and later complete it within its tenure. He said that in the past, development projects were launched by one govt while the same were completed by a different government that come into power much later.

He said that during the tenure of the present federal government, construction of different motorway sections across the country, having combined length of 1,700 kilometres and six lanes, were nearing completion. He said that completion of these motorway projects would surely fortify the country’s economy.

He said that completion of the Lyari Expressway project would resolve the transportation issue in Karachi. “Karachi is like the heart of the country as it is the economic hub of the country,” said the PM.

He said the federal government had been making utmost efforts to develop Karachi and for the purpose, a Rs 25 billion-special development package had been announced. The PM said the Sindh governor had been supervising spending of this special package of the federal government. There is no issue of political rivalry in development of Karachi as everyone concerned had to contribute towards this cause, he said.

“We will build more roads and hospitals in Karachi,” said the PM. He also appreciated the Sindh and local governments for development of Karachi. He said that Pakistan would fail to make progress if in case Karachi failed to make progress.

The PM directed his adviser on finance, present on the occasion, that he on behalf of the Federation should remain in contact and provide utmost cooperation to the Sindh government and all the concerned agencies for development of Karachi.

Earlier, Chairman of NHA Jawwad Rafique Malik informed the audience that combined length of both the tracks of Lyari Expressway was 38 kilometres and it had four inter-changes. He said that completion of this project would ease out to a large extent vehicular traffic congestion on a number of roads of the city.

The ceremony was attended by Sindh Governor Mohammad Zubair, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Federal Communications Minister Hafiz Abdul Kareem, State Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, State Petroleum Minister Jam Kamal, Adviser to the PM on Finance Miftah Ismail, mayor Karachi, corps commander Karachi, and director-general of Sindh Rangers.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi chaired a meeting on law and order at the Governor House, Karachi, here on Sunday where among other issues related to peace he was briefed on the recent incidents of extra-judicial killings in the city. The meeting reviewed the overall law and order situation in the province with special focus on peace and security in Karachi.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi observed that the overall situation in Karachi had improved significantly due to the sacrifices of law enforcement agencies. He, however, said that there is no room for complacency. Law and order is a high priority agenda for the government because without peace and stability, economic potential of the country cannot be harnessed. Karachi is the financial capital of Pakistan; the federal government will continue to offer full support to the provincial government for law and order's maintenance, he stated.

The prime minister reiterated that there should be better coordination among the agencies at the federal and provincial levels to maintain peace and security across the country. He directed for cohesion and integration of database at the national level in the domain of law enforcement and technical support among all the stakeholders.

The prime minister was also briefed on the recent extrajudicial killings in the metropolis. He observed that these incidents are deplorable and should not have happened. The prime minister appreciated the prompt investigation and directed that the culprits must be brought to justice without any delay. He stressed upon the need for effective safeguards for the protection of innocent citizens against criminal abuse of authority.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that the development package announced by the federal government for Karachi would yield positive results in the short as well as long term. He appreciated the role of Rangers and police in peaceful and successful holding of international events in Karachi and expressed satisfaction that the investors’ confidence for investment in Karachi had been restored. The development process will continue with the fullest support of the federal government and will go a long way in terms of consolidating the gains through security operation, the prime minister stated.

The meeting was attended by Governor Sindh Mohammad Zubair, CM Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, Federal Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal, Minister of State for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb, Special Assistant to PM Dr Musadik Malik, Home Minister Sindh Sohail Anwar Sial, Corps Commander Karachi Lt. Gen. Shahid Baig Mirza and other senior civil and military officials.