ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Imran Khan performed the groundbreaking of 103 kilometer-long Naukundi-Mashkhel road to enhance connectivity in Balochistan on Thursday.

While addressing the virtual groundbreaking of the project in Islamabad on Thursday evening, PM Imran Khan said that the project will be a great facility to the scattered population of Balochistan. He said this project is of great importance for the development and future of Balochistan and to strengthen the federation of Pakistan. He said, “We can massively benefit from the natural resources by connecting Balochistan with other parts of the country.”

The Prime Minister said massive road infrastructure will be built in Balochistan during five-year tenure of his government.

Talking about his vision of governance, Imran Khan said he wants rule of law and to help the downtrodden. He said no society can progress without upholding rule of law. He said all mafias are trying to blackmail the government to get immunity or NRO but he is determined to bring them all under the law.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Communication Murad Saeed said completion of this road would help promoting economic activities in the area. The Minister said following Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision of austerity, National Highway Authority would soon become a self-sustainable institution. He said during PTI’s tenure, the authority’s revenue increased by 105 percent.

No society can progress without upholding rule of law: PM

He said 20 billion rupees were accumulated in various recoveries, one billion rupees through austerity drive while land worth 460 billion rupees was also recovered.

The Minister said road infrastructure projects are being launched in the less developed areas of the country to bring them at par with other developed areas. He said network of roads is being laid down across the country through public and private partnership and under a new vision.

He said areas near the GT road would be connected to motorway network through Sialkot-Kharian and Kharian-Rawalpindi motorways, to be launched this year.

Murad Saeed said during our tenure, we constructed around 1753km of roads that created more than hundred thousand jobs in the country while planning for other 6100km of roads has also been completed.

It is pertinent to mention that Naukundi-Mashkhel road project will be completed in two years and help generate direct and indirect job opportunities for about four thousand people.

Areas adjacent to Naukundi-Maskhel section in Balochistan will greatly benefit from the construction of this road as it will provide them easy access to the Iranian border in less time. This will promote local trade especially that of dates which will mark a new beginning in the socio-economic development of these areas

‘Ravi City, Central Business District projects’

Prime Minister Imran Khan emphasised on timely completion of Ravi City and Central Business District projects to boost economic activities and create employment opportunities in the country.

Chairing a review meeting on Ravi Urban Development Authority and Central Business District in Islamabad on Thursday, he said that these major projects will also reduce the increasing population pressure in the city enabling the metropolitan administration to provide residential facilities on modern standard to the general public.

The meeting was briefed in detail on the progress on the Sapphire-Bay, the first phase of the upcoming Ravi City project. It was informed that the government will receive estimated 25 billion rupees revenue from this 2,000-acre land project.

It was informed that project will generate a total of 150 billion rupees in economic activities and two more Ravi City sub-projects including Zones 4, 5, 7 and LB Island will soon be available for investment and the government from these projects will receive expectedly 130 billion rupees.

The Prime Minister was informed that from the RAVI City project on 15000 acres land will result in an economic activity of 1000 billion rupees by December this year which will provide abundant employment opportunities in the country.

The meeting was informed that three modern agricultural technology zones will be established in cooperation with a Swiss company in the Ravi City to cope with growing needs of food in the country. Besides, campuses of all leading universities of the country will be opened.

It was also informed that Young Leadership Programme initiated to ensure participation of youth in the Ravi Urban project and so far 25,000 applications have been received in this regard and first batch of young leaders will start its activities by June this year.

‘Master plans for big cities’

Prime Minister Imran Khan has also directed to formulate master plans for big cities of the country immediately to avoid growing environmental issues. He was chairing weekly meeting of National Coordination Committee for Housing, Construction and Development in Islamabad Thursday.

The Prime Minister said rising unorganized and unplanned urbanization is not only a threat to the environment but also creating food security issues. He also directed that protection of green areas should be considered as a national emergency as green Pakistan is essential for future generations and to provide them a healthy environment. Imran Khan instructed to immediately formulate rules and regulations in utilizing the land and implementation strategy. He also directed to engage general public to protect green areas. The Prime Minister tasked the Finance Minister for providing easy and low-interest loans to the weaker segments of society enabling them to build their own houses.

The meeting also decided to amend the existing laws regarding utilization of agricultural, residential and other lands for the protection of green areas.

It also decided that Green Building Code prepared by the Ministry of Climate Change will be implemented in Naya Pakistan Housing scheme as pilot project.