PM Shehbaz lays foundation stone of Sukkur-Hyderabad motorway

SUKKUR:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday laid the foundation stone of the Sukkur-Hyderabad motorway (M-6) during a ceremony in Sukkur.

Speaking on the occasion, the premier said the development of road infrastructure connecting all provinces of the country, particularly the disadvantaged areas, was crucial for strengthening of the national economy.

He added that connecting the deprived areas including Balochistan and Sindh would pave the way for economic and social development besides creating new business opportunities.

The 306-km-long M-6 will be completed with Rs 307 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, and will interconnect major cities of the country.

The prime minister, in his address at the event, 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 due to the inefficiency of the previous government.

He also directed the relevant authorities to complete the public-private project within the stipulated period of time.

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.

The premier further called for improving road connectivity from Balochistan to upcountry regions in order to connect the Gwadar port and mainstream the province in the national economy.

Shehbaz on the occassion also announced the completion of the Sukkur Rohri bridge, which was earlier announced by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.   

Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah regretted that the apathy of the previous government delayed the construction of M-6 for over three years and emphasised that 25,000 jobs related to the project needed to be given to locals.

The six-lane motorway will comprise 15 interchanges, a large bridge over the Indus river, 82 bridges over canals, 19 underpass bridges, six flyovers, and 10 service areas. The project will create around 25,000 jobs.

The M-6 will pass through the districts of Jamshoro, Hyderabad, Matiari, Benazirabad, Nowshero Feroze, Khairpur, and Sukkur. Service areas and rest areas will be provided at every 50 km on both sides of the highway.

Read Senate body raises concerns over Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway

Earlier this year, the PPPA approved the project proposals for the construction of the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway on a public-private partnership basis.

The project is expected to generate economic benefits through promoting tourism, creating job opportunities, reducing travel time, saving costs, and contributing to the socio-economic development of urban and rural areas along the corridor.

However, complaints of corruption surfaced regarding the funds released for the construction of the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway (M-6) in district Matiari.

After unearthing a mega corruption of Rs2.14 billion in the land acquisition for the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway, the Sindh Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) arrested deputy commissioner Matiari district Adnan Rashid.

Last week, Spokesperson to Sindh Government and Karachi Administrator Murtaza Wahab said that the Sindh government will contact the federal government to get a red warrant issued through Interpol for arresting the sacked DC of Nowshahro Feroze who is absconding in the Sukkur-Hyderabad M6 Motorway land scam.

 

Additional input by APP