Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the overlay and modernization of Islamabad-Lahore Motorway (M-2) at a ceremony in Chakwal on Monday.
Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister said the development process will continue and hurdles being created by the protesting parties cannot stop this process.
"It is evident that no Pakistani likes the dharnas that are taking place, and no Pakistani will tolerate any hurdles in key development projects," the premier said, while addressing the motorway renovation ceremony in Chakwal.
"It is the first time a road like this has been constructed in South Asia, and it is receiving praise not only from within Pakistan but also from abroad," the prime minister said, referring to renovations at the Islamabad-Lahore Motorway.
He said the motorway had been constructed with Pakistan's own funds without the government requesting for any foreign assistance.
"This project would have been completed a lot sooner had we not been ousted," Nawaz said. Speaking about the value of the motorway, the premier said the estimated worth of the motorway was Rs2.25 billion.
Earlier, giving briefing about the project, the Director General, Frontier Works Organization (FWO) Maj. General Muhammad Afzal said the project will be completed with the partnership of FWO and National Highway Authority (NHA). He said it will be a major public private partnership project. He said FWO will look after the M-2 for twenty years.
Government working towards eliminating load-shedding, reducing electricity prices
Nawaz, during the ceremony, said the government had provided relief to the masses by cutting down fuel and power tariffs.
"The government aims to end the shortage of electricity, as well as reducing the price of electricity," the premier said.
"All of this will be possible after the completion of the construction of the Basha and Dasu dams, as well as coal-based projects," he said.
"We want to introduce new projects, and we want to preserve the old projects," the premier said.
"The new projects that have been introduced would be completed had there not been the interruption in the form of dharnas," he said.
He said the projects the government had introduced were 'game-changers for Pakistan'.
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He said the motorway had been constructed with Pakistan’s own funds without the government requesting for any foreign assistance. . These funds amounting to US Dollars 1 Billion were raised through Sukuk Bonds - by Hypothecation of the Highway which is being "upgraded" . http://tribune.com.pk/story/798044/pakistan-raises-1b-through-sukuk-bonds/ . 1) In a second largest single transaction in less than a year, Pakistan has raised $1 billion from international debt markets through the issuance of five-year dollar-denominated Sukuk bonds*. This will help Islamabad build foreign currency reserves to the satisfaction of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
2) Unlike the Euro bond that was issued without collateral, the government has pledged the Islamabad-Lahore Motorway to raise funds that helped it keeping the interest rate below the Euro bond transaction when it raised $2 billion. Sukuk is Islamic bond that has to be backed by collateral. . Cheers
Yeh! asset development abroad through mega corruption.
@ NS...... So sweet and cute of you to think that the general masses can be fooled again and again. D for "Dhandhli" as well. The cat is out of the bag anyways and noone (including IK if he tries) will be able to fool the wider public anymore.
Mr. Nawaz Sharif, if Pakistan needs to be a better place, I feel you and Zardari should step out. There should be ECL for both the plundering family and the wealth from both the family who are hiding abroad should be brought back.
I think both of them are shameless. They have greed for personal benefit.
@Zafar: Amazing analysis. You summed it up. However, i can still read some PMLN diehards not trying to understand the tactics of Nawaz. The Stay order tactics.
@Blithe: As per the Ambulance Driver. The Ambulance was transporting a Dead Baby's body. Which PMLN suddenly treated as Alive and blamed PTI for killing the baby again!
Shameful political point scoring from PMLN.
@Blithe:
Yeah, you win the heart of people by stealing their votes. Cheap, despicable thieves dressed up in suits and ties!
@Blithe: Or maybe by plundering the public money or using it against other leaders in media campaign or maybe more importantly using it for rigging in Election. Stop day-dreaming son.
Obviously we need more metro, roads and bridges. We really dont need any hospitals, jobs, or as simple a thing as water and food for 200+ dead and still dying children in thar.
Please, people, dont get fooled by this govt. This is a blatant attempt to further doom this nation.
IK and NS both have only one plan i.e to fool people
IK plan is not for destruction, Mian Sahb you know that so don't mince words to fool the masses. You already know that IK plan is to expose your theft, rigging, corruption. If you were clean, you would have done the vote recount long time ago and it would not even come to plan A. Therefore you are responsible for IK plans which you call destruction. The purpose of IK plans is to brings about much greater construction which would dwarf your version of construction.
@salman: FIR be launched against Imran Khan for disrupting the lives of citizens. Especially he should be thrown into jail for disrupting the patients en route to hospitals, some of whom have succumbed to their afflictions due to the delay.
Shame on Niazi and his hoodlums!
NS stands for construction of his mansion And Imran Khan stands for destruction of corrupt elements.
Now this makes more logic.
.....and D is for....DECEPTION ......as well.
“NS stands for Dhandali, Imran Khan for Dharna'.
More like Plan D for 'Dhoka', yet again!!
Thanks to his ministers the prime minister has turned himself into an "excess baggage" which no one wants to claim. The once powerful prime minister has lost all authority and has paved the way for PTI.
@Blithe: If you have forgotten, please ask SC to once again disqualify Nawaz Sharif and then see what happens on roads. As far as my last memory is PMLN set on fire shops of common man not Justice Dogar or General Musharaf. Compare Shops on Fire to Tyres on Fire.
@Raghu: I cannot attach a picture here otherwise I can show you Go Nawaz Go written on Cars and Taxis of Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia.
“It is evident that no Pakistani likes the dharnas that are taking place"
LOL - Hope the PM gets to read some of the comments above!
@Blithe: "NS stands for construction, Imran Niazi for destruction", Rest of the country thinks Nawaz stands for corruption, cheating and pathetic governance while Khan stands for justice, good governance and Naya Pakistan. :)
All kids go to school and prepare for exams - there's no short cut to study. imran will not give you anything okay.
@Blithe: Pmln has lost Lahore and the hearts of lahoris. :)
@salman: All you juveniles will make such a statement. NS stands for construction, Imran Niazi for destruction.
Nobody can capture Lahore with force, you have to win the hearts of the people.You don't win the hearts of people by blocking its roads and by terrorizing shopkeepers and citizens.
Why is PMLN only interested in motorways ? Is it because the raw material for these projects comes from their own factories ?
@pak47: @Raghu: Long live Nawaz Sharif in Saudi Arabia and Oil sells at $20 a barrel.
@pak47: Just making a small addition.
Long Live Nawaz Sharif in Saudi Arabia!
Long Live Nawaz Sharif !
NS forgot to mention his own plan C (Cheating) which was implemented in 2013. :)
Plan D also stands for Dollar Dar's Ditinguishable magic with with figures and numbers. Smoke and mirrors and screens equals disappearing money in Dubai.
Plan D is about off shore Deposits. D stands for Nawaz and family's Deposits in foreign accounts. D also means Deliver the Dollars back to this country.
Pmln has lost Lahore.
Yeah Corruption Development in the name of mega projects while children die in government hospitals due to lack of facilities