Only 16-kilometer motorway will be built from Lahore to Raiwind, revealed in standing committee meeting

“Are you building a motorway just for one house?” Senator Quratul Ain Marri

ISLAMABAD: It was revealed in the meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Planning that only a 16-kilometer-long motorway will be constructed from Lahore to Raiwind. The meeting, chaired by Chairperson Quratul Ain Marri, considered the details of the development projects.

Planning Ministry officials said that Rs1,000 billion was spent under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) in the last fiscal year. 55 unapproved projects have been included in the current fiscal year’s PSDP, for which the Planning Commission will issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) after a complete review.

It was informed in the meeting that Rs100 billion has been allocated for the N5 Highway in Balochistan, while foreign aid is available for seven highway projects. The Islamic Development Bank will provide financial assistance for three sections of the M6 ​​motorway, while two more sections will be built under public-private partnership.

Apart from the Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway, the GT Road on this route will also be upgraded. Senator Sadia Abbasi expressed concern over the problem of termite infestation of books in the Islamabad Government Library and said that there are plans to open an Allama Iqbal Research Centre and a library in the capital.

Senator Sadia Abbasi stressed that development funds should be used properly. She said that “our remarks are being interpreted as statements against officials and ministers”, while also questioning the plan to set up a National Heritage Centre.

Chairperson Quratul Ain Marri said that construction of a new motorway in Punjab should not be done until the motorways under construction in other provinces are completed. Senator Manzoor Kakar stressed on the completion of the York-Zhob Road (N-50) on priority basis.

NHA officials said that a 16-kilometer motorway would be built from Lahore to Raiwind, to which Quratul Ain Marri raised the question, “Are you building a motorway for just one house?” He said that the provincial government would bear the cost of the project, while the NHA is currently surveying the land.