LAHORE, Aug 5: A separate unit has been constituted to complete the Rs20 billion Lahore-Sialkot motorway project by the end of next year.

Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi stated this while presiding over a meeting held to review progress on the project here on Saturday. Chief secretary Salman Siddiq, P&D chairman Suleman Ghani and other senior officers attended the meeting.

The chief minister said the motorway would play a vital role in the development of communication network. The 99-kilometre-long motorway would have six interchanges and nine flyovers.

He said three industrial zones spread over 3,000 acres would be developed along the motorway which would enhance industrial activity and provide jobs to the people. Two universities were also being set up with the cooperation of Germany and Sweden, he added.

The chief minister said the motorway would reduce travel time between Lahore and Sialkot. All arrangements had been made to complete the project while maintaining world standards.

He said the government was executing many a mega projects to reduce poverty and backwardness in the province. All development projects were being executed while maintaining modern principles of management and in this regard the P@D’s project management unit was playing an important role.