Govt believes in development, not rhetoric, says PM

Inaugurates Gwadar-Hoshab Road; announces start of work on three other projects

QUETTA:

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has inaugurated a multibillion-rupee highway that connects Gwadar port with Quetta, saying his administration does not believe in mere rhetoric. Army chief General Raheel Sharif drove the prime minister in his military jeep on the highway after its inauguration.

The 193-kilometre-long Gwadar-Turbat-Hoshab Road (M-8) has been built at a cost of Rs13 billion and it will serve as a vital part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The highway will connect the western, central and eastern alignments of the multibillion-dollar network of roads and rails that will connect China’s western region to the Arabian Sea through Gwadar.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the prime minister said completion of the M-8 reflected his government’s vision of a bright and prosperous Balochistan and a well-connected region. “Our government accorded top priority to development in Balochistan and construction of this road is like a dream come true,” he added. “Pakistan’s prosperity is in the prosperity of Balochistan.”

Attendees at the ceremony included army chief Gen Raheel Sharif, Balochistan Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai and Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri.

Premier Nawaz said his administration was not only focusing
on construction of roads but was also giving equal attention to other sectors that would usher in an era of prosperity in the country.

“Our government does not believe in mere rhetoric and is focusing on real development for a lasting impact.”

The prime minister said the Central Asian Republics were also keen on using the elaborate network of roads in Pakistan to reach the open seas. “The road linkage will not only benefit Pakistan but also around 3 billion people of the entire region.”

The prime minister also announced start of work on the Quetta-Khuzdar road dualisation project, Basima-Khuzdar-Shahdadkot road and Bella-Awaran-Hoshab highway. “The project was started at a time when the security situation was not good,” he added. “The four-lane roads can later be expanded to six lanes to cater to growing traffic.”

Premier Nawaz paid rich tributes to all those who laid down their lives for the completion of the project that would eventually link the province to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. “It is a very important link that will connect the country’s southern areas to northern and help generate economic activity.”

Prime Minister Nawaz also lauded efforts of the director general of the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), Major General Muhammad Afzal, and his team for ‘courageously completing the road’ despite numerous challenges.



He also appreciated Gen Raheel for his keen interest in the project for timely completion of the road and peace initiative in Balochistan. “The FWO is already working on the Jalalabad-Peshawar linkage and the country will soon have a robust network of roads linking with its neighbours.”

Maj Gen Afzal briefed the prime minister on the project, saying that the M-8 project was a major step towards utilisation of the Gwadar port. “The completion will link Quetta to Gwadar and to Afghanistan through Chaman. M-8 will play a key role in the economic growth of Pakistan.”

“During construction of the project there had been 207 attacks on FWO workers by miscreants that caused 26 deaths of its staff, while 18 helping staff also lost their lives,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4^th, 2016.