Observer Report
Islamabad
Federal Minister for Communication Murad Saeed has said that work has begun on western route of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Murad Saeed, while addressing a press conference, said that pace of work on CPEC has increased and new projects are also being launched and government has approved DI Khan-Zhob road under CPEC’s western route, which was demand of smaller provinces.
The minister informed that tender for Hyderabad and Sukkur Motorways will be held this year. He further said that roads of 1800 kilometers will be constructed without any burden on national exchequer while areas located on GT Road will be connected to Motorways.
Murad Saeed said that less money is being spent on roads as compared to previous governments as more roads are being constructed under public-private partnership. Projects in Sindh, South Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were government’s priority, he added.
The federal minister further said that 57 projects have been included in this year’s Public Sector Development Program. He added that work on Havelian, Thakot, Multan and Sukkur routes was completed on priority basis and now a motorway will be constructed from Peshawar to DI Khan.
Meanwhile, the Public Sector Development Programme for the year 2020-21 contains around Rs21 billion allocation for projects under China Pakistan Economic Corridor— once considered a game changer for Pakistan.
Except a few major road and rail projects under the CPEC, the PSDP does not allocate money for any significant scheme. There is no mention of any allocation for any of the much-discussed industrial zones, which were to be established under the CPEC to general industrial and economic growth of the country. The most conspicuous allocation under CPEC in the 2020-21 PSDP is for the construction of Zhob to Kuchlak Road, CPEC Western Corridor as Rs10 billion has been allocated for this project.
