RAWALPINDI, April 13: President General Pervez Musharraf has stressed the need for early completion of Islamabad-Peshawar motorway, saying that it is an important link between Peshawar and other parts of the country.
He was talking to federal Minister for Political Affairs Engineer Amir Muqam, who had called on him at his camp office on Friday.
The work on the 149-km Islamabad-Peshawar motorway (M-I) had commenced in January 2003 and under the original plan was to be completed within four years.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had recently approved the provision of funds for the early completion of the project and directed the authorities concerned to expedite work.
According to a press release, the president said the government was committed to provide basic needs of life to people, particularly in the far-flung and underdeveloped areas of the country to bring them at par with the developed ones.
He said that due to prudent economic policies pursued in the last seven years, the government had sufficient funds for the development projects throughout the country.
He said that there was no shortage of funds for any type of development project for any area.
The president said provision of gas, electricity, drinking water and other basic needs of life to the people were at the top of the government agenda.
He said that the government had been taking practical measures seriously for development projects so that the people should be provided all amenities of life at their doorsteps without any delay as it was their basic right.
The president discussed other development projects under process in different parts of the NWFP with Engineer Amir Muqam and added the completion of these projects would bring about a revolution in the areas.
He said that unprecedented funds were being spent on the development projects in different parts of the country without any discrimination and it was possible due to better economy and improved economic situation of the country.
Various other projects including roads in Malakand, Lowari Top and reopening of Saidu Sharif airport were also discussed during the meeting.
Engineer Amir Muqam, who is also president of the NWFP chapter of the Pakistan Muslim League and in-charge of the development projects of the federal government in the province, discussed the pace of the work of these projects with the president.
He said that during the tenure of President General Pervez Musharraf concrete steps had been taken by the government for the welfare, progress and prosperity of the people and they had been empowered at the grassroots level.
The political situation of the NWFP also came under discussion during the meeting.
