PM directs NHA to ensure quality construction of highways

Islamabad: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Wednesday directed the National Highway Authority (NHA) to ensure that work on construction of highways conform to international standards and be completed as per schedule. The Prime Minister expressed these views while talking to Chairman NHA Muhammad Ali Gardezi who called on him at the Prime Minister’s House this morning.

The Chairman NHA briefed the Prime Minister about the progress made so far on various projects undertaken by the NHA. The Prime Minister was also briefed about the progress on the Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway and on Hasan Abadal-Hawalian-Mansehra section.

Prime Minister Ashraf said his government places top most priority to development in Balochistan and directed the Chairman NHA to put up a comprehensive plan so that work on the ongoing projects can be fast tracked on priority basis to improve connectivity in Balochistan.
The Chairman NHA apprised the Prime Minister that work on Loralai Road as well as Zhob is in advance stage. Chaman Road, he said has been completed till Qila Saifullah. He also apprised the Prime Minister that most of the work on Mastung Road had been completed.
The Prime Minister said projects approved for Balochistan in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) may be prioritized so that the allocated funds could be used optimally.He was also briefed about work being carried out in the Province of Sindh.

The Chairman NHA informed the Prime Minister that work on Ratti-Naudero Road, Mohenjo Daro Dual Carriageway, Larkana-Qambar,Qambar-Shehdadpur, Benazir Abad, Sukkur and road from Sukkur to Shikarpur dual carriageway would be completed by December this year.