Observer Report
Islamabad
The recently completed Sukkur-Multan Motorway (M5) is a reflective of rapid progress on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that brings huge benefit to the people, in term of their socio-economic uplift.
It employed more than 30,000 people, approximately 97 percent of which belong to the local community from the surrounding areas, says a report published by China Economic Net (CEN).
It is a core portion of the Peshawar-Karachi Motorway (PKM) that charged up the local industries involving construction materials, sand, cement and other materials besides a diverse array of businesses languishing over the past many years. The M5 has helped shrink the distance and cut almost in half the travel time from almost 7 hours to 3 and a half hour.
Since the new situation will lead to reduction of fuel consumption, the swelling burden of the oil import bill on the national exchequer stands to be minimized. Owing to shortening of traveling time, comparatively less fuel will be used causing less emission of greenhouse gases. The pleasant effect will go a long way in healing the regional ecology.
According to report, for local residents, the Sukkur-Multan Motorway is not just a simple road, but instead a corridor of prosperity and progress that has opened the flood gates of life-transforming fortunes.
After opening for traffic, the project will open up the major north-south traffic artery in central Pakistan, greatly improving the inter-city traffic situation of Pakistan, and directly drive the social and economic development of the areas along the project and benefit the Pakistani people. Credit definitely goes to world-renowned Chinese company China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) for making all this happen.
According to the report, at a time when anti Pak-China lobbies condemned CPEC, terming it a disaster for Pakistan, the Sukkur-Multan Motorway (M5), is making a splash as a symbol of shared destiny.
Ammar Yasir Magsi, a manager of project said that the miracle project M5 is known as a livelihood project providing everyone, especially women opportunities to grow together., The project is almost 13 days ahead of its completion schedule, as it started on August 5, 2016 and completed on July 23, 2019. The local market witnessed a boom because during all procedural requirements of construction of the Sukkur-Multan Motorway, all materials were procured locally. It gave new life to the local economy which was struggling to improve,” he opined.—INP
