Shehbaz Sharif lays foundation of CPEC project in two Sindh cities
Gwadar Pro
Sukkur: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has laid the foundation of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)‘s M-6 motorway in Sukkur and Hyderabad cities of Sindh province.
With its ends in Sukkur and Hyderabad, the 306-km-long M-6 will be completed with Rs307 billion within 30 months as per international standards. The M-6 portion will complete the North-South Motorway Corridor, also known as the Karachi-Peshawar Motorway, which will interconnect major cities of the country.
The prime minister, in his address at the two events in Sukkur and Hyderabad, said it was a matter of satisfaction for the coalition government to restore construction work of the M-6 motorway that faced a prolonged delay.
He stressed that the development of road infrastructure connecting all provinces, particularly the disadvantaged areas of the country, was crucial for strengthening the national economy.
The prime minister, who twice performed the foundation-laying of M-6 motorway in Sukkur and Hyderabad cities of Sindh province respectively, said connecting the deprived areas, including Balochistan and Sindh, would pave the way for economic and social development, besides creating new business opportunities.
He emphasized upon ensuring the quality and standard of the M-6 motorway not less than rest of the motorway network in the country. He directed the relevant authorities to complete the public-private project within the stipulated time period.
The prime minister encouraged Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal to promote further projects on public-private projects so as to achieve the goals of development and prosperity.
He also called for improving road connectivity from Balochistan to the up-country in order to connect the all-important Gwadar Port and mainstream the province in the national economy.
He announced the completion of the Sukkur-Rohri Bridge, which was earlier announced by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and also directed improvement of Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway to avoid traffic congestion and accidents.
He also announced that the Federal Government would contribute Pakistani Rs one billion to Sindh’s development fund to mitigate the sufferings of flood-affected people and urged the provincial government to allocate the same amount from its exchequer.
He mentioned that federal and provincial governments, national and provincial disaster management authorities, and international aid agencies were collaborating in the rehabilitation efforts.
Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan in the upcoming donors conference to be held in Geneva in January would urge the international community to provide assistance in the wake of massive life and infrastructure losses due to the recent flash floods.
