PM Shehbaz lays foundation stones of multiple development projects in D I Khan
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday inaugurated and laid foundation stones of multiple mega development projects for Southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
During his visit to Dera Ismail Khan, the prime minister in a ceremony laid foundation stones of 50-kilometer Motorway section of CPEC’s Western route from Yarik to Saggu, rehabilitation of Chashma Right Bank Canal (CRBC), Tank Zam Dam, Chashma Hydel Power Project and Gomal University Paharpur Campus.
Besides, he also inaugurated the repairing work from Pezu to Tank road, D.I.Khan bypass and other roads which were damaged due to recent heavy rains and floods, two 132 KV Grid stations for Abdul-Khel and Band Korai.
Addressing a ceremony, the prime minister said that the credit of these development projects goes to the political wisdom of Jamiat Ulema Islam Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
He said it was the dream of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to link the whole country through Motorways and this dream would be completed from Khyber to Karachi, adding, he had recently laid the foundation stone of the last segment of Motorways from Sukkur to Hyderabad. The prime minister said the plan for western route of CPEC till Zhob was completed in 2017.
But, he added, unfortunately, the previous government had also stopped this important project as it had destroyed the national economy.
He mentioned that he had recently visited the friendly country China where Federal Minister for Information Maryum Aurangzeb, Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal and Federal Minister for Communications Asad Mahmood were also accompanying him.
He said the government of China extended great honour to the visiting delegation of Pakistan.
He said the previous government had destroyed the national economy and even annoyed the friendly countries including China and Saudi Arabia.
Shehbaz Sharif recalled that when he took oath as a prime minister on April 11 last, he was not aware about the worsening economic situation of the country.
All parties of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) had taken it as a challenge and saved the country from bankruptcy.
He said the country was facing difficulties importing oil and gas as the prices of petroleum products were high at international markets due to the Russia-Ukraine war.
He vowed that all the challenges being faced by the country would be overcome by the coalition government of PDM and the country would be put on the path of development and prosperity again.
He congratulated the local people that a new international airport would be established at a suitable site as the old airport of D I Khan was not suitable for an international airport.
He said 777 planes would be landed and fly from the new airport.
He welcomed the suggestion given by Maulana Fazlur Rehman that an industrial estate should be established near the new airport and said the ministry of Industries and Production would discuss the matter with the provincial departments and other stakeholders.
The area would be made a hub of Industrial and Agricultural activities, the prime minister added.
He appreciated the services of Ministries of Power and Communications for speedy rehabilitation of electricity service and road infrastructures in flood affected areas.
Commenting on the recent wave of Terrorism, the prime minister said a meeting of national security would be called within few days and the menace of terrorism would be eliminated again with the help of the provincial governments and security forces.
He expressed sorrow over the sad incident of Bannu and congratulated the SSGs and other law enforcers over a successful operation.
He said the Martyrs were the real heroes of the nation and would remain heroes till the Day of Judgment.
He mentioned that when he went to enquire about the health of injured soldiers in a hospital of Rawalpindi, he met with a Major who participated in the Bannu operation voluntarily during his leave period.
The prime minister said that he was feeling happy for laying the foundation stones of development projects in an area which he visited in devastating condition due to flash flood a few months ago. He said the recent flood was a natural calamity which destroyed infrastructures and agriculture in different areas of the country.
In Swat, the destruction was not only caused by natural calamity but the human mistakes were more responsible for the huge destruction as the provincial government had allowed constructions over the land of the river.
He said around Rs 90 billion has been spent for rehabilitation of flood victims.
He said the federal and provincial governments and institutions along with the local people collectively resolved the basic issues in flood affected areas while the effects were still remaining which could not be addressed solely by the federal government.
The prime minister said that he would also raise the issue in the upcoming Donors Conference scheduled to be held in Geneva.
He said that the international community would be told in the conference that Pakistan was facing destruction due to Carbon emission of Developed countries to which its contribution is less than one percent.
He expressed the commitment that the coalition government would settle all the flood affected people in their homes with the help of provinces.
