LAHORE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Friday said the significant Karachi-Lahore Motorway must be constructed within minimum possible time to benefit the huge population.

He said this while meeting members of China State Construction Company (CSCEC), led by Li Ji Qin, Managing Director of the company.

Highlighting importance of better communications networks, the prime minister said that his government was determined to construct mega projects with the assistance of Chinese government, which would boost the economic activities in the country and the region.

Prime Minister Sharif said that construction of Karachi-Lahore Motorway would ease commuting between Karachi and other major cities of the country. He said that the road will also serve for speedy and early trading of goods.

Li JI Qin informed the Pakistani prime minister that his company had already started the feasibility study of the motorway on their own expenses as technical assistance to the government of Pakistan.

He said his company had recently constructed a 600 kilometer motorway in Congo and would be able to construct the Karachi-Lahore Motorway within three years.

The premier, however, advised the State Engineering Executives to reduce the time period by forming the construction consortiums for the project. He expressed the hope that the project must be completed in less than two and a half years.

The meeting was also attended by Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Minister for Planning & Development Ahsan Iqbal, secretary communication, chairman NHA and other senior officials.