Pakistan

PM inaugurates CPEC’s western route in Zhob

PM Nawaz lays the foundation stone of Mughal Kot Carriageway of CPEC's western alignment

Mohammad Zafar December 30, 2015

AN EXPRESSNEWS SCREENGRAB

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said development projects in Balochistan is the top most agenda of the government of Pakistan.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the western route of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Zhob, the premier announced the construction of an international-level airport in Gwadar along side the development of a deep sea port.

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Addressing a gathering after the inauguration, the premier said, "With the establishment of an airport and a sea port, Balochistan will not only connect with the rest of Pakistan but will also connect with the whole world."

"We believe that Balochistan has the first right over all resources which have been explored in the province."

All developmental projects will be completed by December 2017, PM Nawaz announced, while adding that "the era of prosperity in Pakistan will begin with the completion of these projects in Balochistan."

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Further, the premier congratulated Rahila Durrani for being elected as the first-ever female speaker of the Balochistan Assembly. "It is not only an honour for Balochistan but also for Pakistan that a female assembly speaker has been elected in the province."

Appreciating all political parties for their consensus on CPEC-related projects, PM Nawaz informed those in attendance that a total of Rs200 billion is being spent on the construction of roads in Balochistan, while adding that the Gwadar to Karachi coastal highway will be converted into a motorway.

"The 454km road between Hoshab, Panjgur and Suhrab will be completed by December 2016," the premier announced.

COMMENTS (19)

syed & syed | 8 years ago | Reply Article printed in the daily Jung of Tuesday (today)Mr Salim Safi gave different version of western route clearly spelling out that the PM is not telling the truth whereas work on eastern route is going with full throttle.Will the Prime Minister clearly and without reservation provide comprehensive map of road to be built under CPEC before Chinese catch us red handed. Regarding Industrial areas does Karachi lies on the route. Mr. Prime Minister come out with truth and do not behave like Ahsan Iqbal.The media is very cruel and they catch you moch now and then and you behave like chikna garha.

raider | 8 years ago | Reply @Maria: how economy is improving , while FDI and exports of the country shrunk for last two years and economy still growing@ lowest in south Asian region, while you credited this achievement(cpec) (far to be achieved) to your goods, which political party will support this.

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raider | 8 years ago | Reply @NHA: dear i have no objection on CPEC and don't believe on inter-provincial conflicts but like to remain at difference with peoples playing unfair politics here and making political point scoring, in next term parties like pmln will contest next election on these slogan like one "if you want make Pakistan a developed country make us be voted again", this never happens in any country except Pakistan,

Fouzia | 8 years ago | Reply @No to imperialism: Baluchistan province has the right to take this project those Pakistanis who are against of it they are very negative minded because they are not in favor of giving rights to the people of Baluchistan they think all the resources all the facilities should be given to them and Baluchistan has no right why they don't think that from all the natural resources they get the benefit not the people of Baluchistan

Maria | 8 years ago | Reply @No to imperialism: It is not drama. After a long time, Pakistan's economy and future are improving thanks to the efforts of Nawaz Sharif and group. He deserves to be at the ground breaking ceremony.

sabi | 8 years ago | Reply Every times this man inaugurates a mega project he in facts strikes a nail on the coffin of fake politicians who live on politicizing the projects of national interests speaking lies at the cost of common man. May his tribe grow so that this country becomes a great country in short possible time. Well done pmln.

Xnain | 8 years ago | Reply @cautious: Probably you should read up on difference between Gawadar and Karachi port. Had Gawadar had no potential, it would have been same lh ike Pasni and Ormarah

Xnain | 8 years ago | Reply PM delivers another blow to the ethnic haters. Not only that he addressed the issue raised by KPK's political parties but also called them up on inauguration. KPK's Govt has been playing long politics over CPEC even after PM announced an upgradation to motorway standards. Those who continue to call him a PM of Punjab had a fair amount of facepalm in last two days as he not only inaugurated the power plant in Karachi but then this western route.

Akbar Bhatti | 8 years ago | Reply @NHA: Bahawalpur to Khanewal N5A Dual-Carriageway Project via Lodhran-Dunyapur-Jehanian has been in doldrums since 2008.

Abdullah khan | 8 years ago | Reply Will have the same fate ike Kala bagh dam it is written on walls not bla bla

Maqsood Ahmed | 8 years ago | Reply @Mehreen: It is absolutely apparent that corridor is not consist of one road, as the word and its definition suggests. It would involve a complete array of infrastructure. But thanks for the explanation anyway.

No offence | 8 years ago | Reply Despite the everything one again this PM is reading from a piece of paper, he can't say even few words without a written script. Come on PM, at least behave like a leader if not in reality. Learn from your cousin Modi.

NHA | 8 years ago | Reply @raider: I pray to Allah , you be given some common sense. These projects are for all. Go where ever you want and where you find an opportunity. Why stick to Western or Easter corridor. There is plenty for all. Enjoy life.

raider | 8 years ago | Reply @Talha: you mean guwarder and khanjrab are in punjab, but mian sb is inaugurating routs in balochistan for the sake of balochistan and other depried areas to get them connect with corridor. thank you for updating

cautious | 8 years ago | Reply the premier announced the construction of an international-level airport in Gwadar along side the development of a deep sea port. . No economic justification for a port at Gwadar let alone an International airport. Karachi ports have plenty of capacity and Pakistani businesses have never demanded an additional port. Anybody tried to pencil out much incremental business would have to take place to make the port and airport make economic sense? Anybody even bothered to explain how/where that incremental business is going to materialize - and if that business is suppose to be from China has anybody considered whether that makes any economic sense for China?

Talha | 8 years ago | Reply Where are those people now who used to call Nawaz as PM of Punjab Now they'll use some lame logic and declare Zhob as part of Punjab M-8 motorway is in Balochistan not in Lahore

raider | 8 years ago | Reply pm can not do anything except attending ground breaking ceremonies and inaugurations, mian sb loves to do things like these but has admitted that he had failed to understand what to do and each time failure is deemed to be caused by this reason, thank u mian sb nation will be well served by you this time again

Mehreen | 8 years ago | Reply Before all the haters will jump in and start talking bla bla, let me clarify that Economic Corridor is not the name of some road. This means it is not some particular road. It includes many roads including railway infrastructure. Before stating any foolish statements think about it. So the discussion of Western and Eastern corridor does not make any sense. Both corridors are important. Western corridor include Balochistan and KP and Eastern corridor include Punjab, Kashmir and Sindh. So both of these corridor regions will benefit the whole of Pakistan. Anyone who is stating Western corridor should be built while Punjab and Sindh should be neglected is living in a fools world with full of ethnic hatred.

No to imperialism | 8 years ago | Reply Stop this drama, for Punjab motorways and for western route, up gradation of existence highways, shame on you and on all those standing with you.

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