We’ll keep promise of early completion of CPEC western link: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said the government will keep its promise of early completion of the western link of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and issued instructions to work speedily on the project and asked to start land acquisition without any further delay for the purpose as funds had already been allocated in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) budget.
The prime minister made it clear that the speedy implementation of the projects will not compromise transparency standards. While chairing the third meeting on the CPEC and infrastructure projects in four days at the PM House to review the progress on the development of all infrastructure projects in the country, he issued new guidelines for the early completion of various projects.
The Chairman of the National Highways Authority (NHA), Shahid Ashraf Tarar, gave a detailed briefing to the prime minister on the CPEC route and the western corridor. The premier also directed the relevant staff of the PM Office to coordinate with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan governments for fast tracking the land acquisition process. He recalled that the western link was his commitment in the All Parties Conference with the nation and it shall be honoured in letter and spirit.
The prime minister said the government had made an unprecedented investment in infrastructure projects in Balochistan as such and it was for the first time that 100 percent PSDP funds had been released by the federal government to Balochistan.
The prime minister was briefed on the feasibility designs and timeliness of the different packages of the projects, including the Burhan-DI Khan, DI Khan to Zhob, Zhob to Quetta roads. He was also briefed that financial closure of Lahore to Abdul Hakim Motorway and Zhob to Mushakot Motorway had been done and these projects were ready for ground breaking.
Nawaz decided to do the ground breaking of these projects within the current month. He was briefed that work on Khanewal to Multan section of the Motorway was complete and the project was ready for commissioning this month. The prime minister expressed satisfaction over the progress of the development works and directed the NHA to fulfil its obligation towards to people of Pakistan with utmost commitment and by ensuring transparency and saving the taxpayers money. The meeting was also attended by senior officers, including Secretary to PM Haji Javaid Aslam, Additional Secretary to PM Fawad Hasan Fawad, JS Kamran Afzal, MS to PM Brigadier Akmal Aziz and JS Abdul Samad Wani.