PM inaugurates Bhara Kahu Bypass, calls for restoration of national 'grandeur'

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday urged the nation to make determined and concerted efforts to make Pakistan regain its grandeur and stature and compete with the world.

The prime minister, addressing the inauguration ceremony of Bhara Kahu Bypass, said the country’s eastern neighbour had moved far ahead but Pakistan could also progress in accordance with Quaid-e-Azam's vision which was pursued by Nawaz Sharif in the 1990s.

The project was started in October 2022 and was executed by NLC within nine months at a cost of Rs6.25 billion. It has removed a major bottleneck for millions of commuters travelling to Muree, Kashmir, and Galliyat.

The prime minister, who inaugurated the project, said throughout his political career and during all of his interactions, his only intention had been to serve the masses.

But, he said the previous governments had been wasting billions of rupees from the national exchequer by impeding public projects, and gave an example of the Haveli Bahadur Shah Power Plant which was stopped despite having spent billions of rupees which otherwise could have been used for public interest projects.

Calling the Bahara Kahu bypass’s inauguration a moment of satisfaction, the prime minister said the project would ease the difficulties of travellers of Islamabad, Punjab and KP visiting AJK and Galliyat.

He said the project should have been completed years ago but the incumbent conceived it and managed to accomplish it within nine months despite challenges including a land dispute with Quaid-e-Azam University which was settled through court.

The prime minister said he had given a three-month target for the project completion which was also achievable had there been no challenges.

Shehbaz added that Bhara Kahu Bypass was also the vision of Nawaz Sharif’ whose government was removed through the “worst conspiracy” and the projects of his government were impeded.

He said the government completed the Metro Bus Project which had been suspended by the previous PTI government.

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The premier further told the gathering that the after the opening of LCs, the environment-friendly electric buses were set to reach Islamabad for the facilitation of the residents of Islamabad.

The prime minister also instructed the CDA to plant a million trees around the Bhara Kahu Bypass, though around 70,000 have already been planted.

Shehbaz also thanked the party leadership for their support and contribution to the project and instructed the CDA to 'beautify Islamabad like Baku of Azerbaijan'.

In her address, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb recalled the journey of progress marked by the efforts of Shehbazduring the last 15 months.

She said the prime minister managed to revive the course of development which was initiated by the PML-N government in its previous tenure but was obstructed by the PTI government.

The minister added that for the public's facilitation, all of the Islamabad Metro routes have been linked with Airport and residential sectors.

CDA Chairman Noorul Amin Mengal said the CDA was spending Rs20 billion for the uplift of Islamabad’s rural areas.

He said 55 parks and Sunday bazaars were being established in the rural belt.