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MANSEHRA: "Pakistan is poised for an economic takeoff," Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif claimed at the inauguration ceremony of the Havelian-Thakot Motorway section in Mansehra on Thursday.
The 120-kilometre section of the motorway, part of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is expected to be complete in 42 months with a cost of Rs133.98 billion, Radio Pakistan reported.
China Exim bank will fund 90 per cent of the project, while the remainder will be funded by Pakistan.
The stretch of motorway from Havelia passes through Abbottabad, Mansehra and Shinkiari, ending at Thakot.
In line with an earlier strategy ostensibly aimed at wooing voters for the 2018 elections, the PM announced a number of road and power projects for the region.
"This is proof of my love," he told the people of Dodiyal. "It will take less than 1.5 hours instead of five hours to travel from Burhan to Shinkiari [along the new motorway]," he said. "I love the people of Dodiyal and Shinkiari as much as I love the people of Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta," he said addressing a large crowd of cheering supporters.
The premier announced two gas projects catering to the region. "2018 will be the year power shortages end," he claimed, adding, "There will be no loadshedding in Pakistan... Electricity will be cheaper."
"I don't just come by to cut a ribbon, I finish what I start," he assured the people of Dodiyal. "Everyone else is pulling your leg," he claimed. "You will soon be rid of the others who conspire," he said in a veiled reference to his opposition.
"Where is 'Naya Pakistan'?" he asked. "These are our provinces... You will see a Khushaal Pakistan by the end of our tenure," he claimed.
"These plans will be complete within the next two years and then we will go towards a new election."
The inauguration ceremony comes as the government on Wednesday approved a Budget Strategy Paper for the next fiscal year with a target to spend Rs1.497 trillion on development.
Nawaz headed to Kotli Sattiyaan on Monday and announced several development projects for the neglected Rawalpindi district, including a Rawalpindi-Kotli Sattiyaan-Muzaffarabad expressway and distributed compensation cheques to those affected by recent rains and landsliding in the area.
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Comments (75) Closed
Apr 28, 2016 03:44pm
good work keep it up.
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Apr 28, 2016 03:49pm
@sheeraz sheikh Keep IT up and keep IK down
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Apr 28, 2016 03:51pm
Another prominent Deliverable by Government to People, Thumbs up
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Apr 28, 2016 03:56pm
Good work PM, but its tax payers money not your savings and therefore we will still vote PTI.
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Apr 28, 2016 04:06pm
Good going NS.Lots of development and highways in North Punjab and Hazara KPK,please develop highways in Sindh and mass transit in Karachi as PPP government is sleeping.
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Apr 28, 2016 04:11pm
Mian sahab inaugorated same road 19 years ago too!
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Apr 28, 2016 04:10pm
@ali .you havent learned a lesson from pti failure and corruption of khattak.probably your vote will be the only one in the ballot box.as we have seen imran khan has done nothing else than dharna.His 350 dams and economic promises are what we are waiting for in KPK.dont bash us about the police they are equally corrupt as they were.
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Apr 28, 2016 04:10pm
Roads, roads and roads.... on a day where a report is published showing the state of education at primary level the government and the PM can boast of building motorways and that on China's expense.
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Apr 28, 2016 04:12pm
Well done ...Nawaz Sharif this a very good approach ...do so much in the next two years that this negative opposition may fall on their face...
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Apr 28, 2016 04:11pm
Concrete...concrete everywhere, the motorway man doing the only thing he knows about 'good governance' where there are good kick-backs!
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Apr 28, 2016 04:14pm
PML-N...the new synonym for development.
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Apr 28, 2016 04:14pm
I was amazed to.know that Pakistan has a larger network of motorways(expressways) than India although India has second largest(48 lac km) road network in world & soon it's expressway network is going to overtake pak's . Until now we were busy in educating the masses, but now expressway network is being constructed. but pak should also invest in railways. India is investing heavily in Roads,Railways and Ports.
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Apr 28, 2016 04:30pm
I believe there are too many inaugurations done before to fool ppl, please don't be fooled this time,
PM is only interested in riwind Lahore,
all the money it out but PM is in, pays very little tax,
what a shame!
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Apr 28, 2016 04:34pm
Dear PM,
We need best education, Health facilities, security and jobs
what have you done for that as this is the need of majority of people of Pakistan.
please don't build motorways for only a small fraction of ppl.
Shame !
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Apr 28, 2016 04:37pm
What about clean water, schools, hospitals, justice system, good governance etc when you will work on this mr PM.
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Apr 28, 2016 04:40pm
Well done Shariff....ps did you supply the Steel?
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Apr 28, 2016 04:41pm
At-Least N-League do deliver something and try to work it out... Keep up the Good work, But still i will vote for PTI
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Apr 28, 2016 04:41pm
Way to Go Mian sb. When you initiated the Lahore-Islamabad Motorway people were against you. Now they are all traveling on this motorway. You are the pioneer in setting the infrastructure in Pakistan.
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Apr 28, 2016 04:47pm
the (CPEC) is part of china's ultimate goal of greater "new silk route".I am sorry if any of the Pakistani government is claiming this as their initiatives or their vision for Pakistan future, because its not ..all we are doing is to ensure that this projects does get completed ..so Pakistan can gain economic benefit out of it ...which is perfectly fine ..and any Pakistani government would do the same ...this should get done ASAP ...Pakista.n needs this project to continue and complete successfully ...
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Apr 28, 2016 04:49pm
What about Sindh?? What about provinces other than Punjab? What about basic human needs such as education, health, security, respect!!!! Is building cost competitive or are ruling politicians set to make personal billions out of this project, yet again??
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Apr 28, 2016 04:49pm
All this is for more commission,
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Apr 28, 2016 04:50pm
@Lobster - You have a great memory. Thanks.
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Apr 28, 2016 04:50pm
It is unfortunate that the active PM is being barricaded by unscrupulous on ill-founded reasons. Otherwise, what was achieved ever by the previous PPP Government in its full tenure?
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Apr 28, 2016 04:53pm
@Zia Taqdees : IK is the only one who directed his Govt. in KPK to refuse land for CPEC, if his dictates were not agreed by China-Pakistan, in their already agreed arrangements.
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Apr 28, 2016 04:55pm
If China pays 90% of the costs, it has the right to follow its selected route.
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Apr 28, 2016 04:55pm
Why doesn't our PM understand that we need water and electricity before we need motorways?
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Apr 28, 2016 05:00pm
@Alien He won't because he and his brother are interested with roads, metros and motorways and those also only for Punjab..Karachi is suffering with shortage of water, Lee trinity, lack of decent public transport, stinking heaps of garbage but who cares?
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Apr 28, 2016 04:58pm
Keep going guys until we achieve our goal to make CEPEC a success.
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Apr 28, 2016 05:00pm
Good project but it would be interesting to know as to how much this Government is spending on health and education compared to roads and other mega projects.
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Apr 28, 2016 05:09pm
Well done PM.
Pakistan Zindabad!
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Apr 28, 2016 05:09pm
The motorway may be built in Pakistan, but the dividends on the contract can stretch all the way to UK and Panama!
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Apr 28, 2016 05:19pm
The Punjab government is turning beautiful Lahore and ISB into concrete jungles, with overpasses, flyovers while cutting down thousands of trees. All in the name of development and progress.
I bet someone in the Sharif family's close circles in the construction business and supplier of sand, cement and steel! We already know who produces steel.
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Apr 28, 2016 05:19pm
Now only if he could build a highway between the countries he shuffles a lot. Britain and Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
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Apr 28, 2016 05:21pm
Same project, announced now for 4th time since 1990 are pmln supporters short term memory patient?
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Apr 28, 2016 05:22pm
So many illiterate people in Pakistan. Government of Pakistan should built schools all over the country. Building Roads are OK because money is not coming from Pakistan
treasury. China is investing money to make money in the near future. There is nothing to be proud of PM, because he is not putting his dime on this project. Pakistani must think about above the party line.
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Apr 28, 2016 05:22pm
Yes, infrastructure building programmes are a must for country's progress, perhaps more important will be those schemes that help in jobs creation, health care, education for the poor and banning of illegal arms in the country.
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Apr 28, 2016 05:43pm
@ahmed hafeez development of just roads??
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Apr 28, 2016 05:57pm
@KPK resident. You are not KPK Resident. Stop Pretending, dude.
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Apr 28, 2016 05:58pm
I wish Nawaz S will do some thing for Karachi from where he gets all the TAX
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Apr 28, 2016 06:04pm
MIAN JI ! they only know about motorways, so that commission and kickbacks can be earned, no basic health structure in small cities and villages, Smart people! enjoy motorways.
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Apr 28, 2016 06:04pm
Nawaz is so keen on motorways, how about education and healthcare and inflation!!
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Apr 28, 2016 06:12pm
Building schools is a low profit margin proposition, and the payoffs and kickbacks are comparatively smaller! Motorway is the way to go.
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Apr 28, 2016 06:19pm
Gotta give it to this guy, he is good for Pakistan's development. Though I am a PTI supporter on many other issues but Pakistan comes first!
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Apr 28, 2016 06:25pm
@Yasmin Elahi ; blame goes to MQM and PPP for lack of development in Karachi not Nawaz Sharif. BTW, I still support PTI over PMLN
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Apr 28, 2016 06:26pm
Somebody stop me!!!
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Apr 28, 2016 06:36pm
Sorry Pakistan could not be poised for an economic take off unless you plug the holes of corruption and money laundering from it's boat.
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Apr 28, 2016 06:37pm
I love Pakistani motorways. Hope one day will drive on.
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Apr 28, 2016 06:41pm
So the PM re-announced construction of a section of CPEC like he did earlier in Gawadar. He can probably have one jalsa per section of CPEC this way.
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Apr 28, 2016 06:43pm
wrong priorities as usual.
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Apr 28, 2016 07:06pm
But how PM claims that the project is part of CPEC? This is just motorway a road, not economic corridor. Because we cannot call a motorway without LNG, fiber optic line, nonstop electricity power, oil pipeline and industrial zones Economic Corridor.
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Apr 28, 2016 07:09pm
well bigger the project is the bigger the margin they will make, where is the accountability ?
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Apr 28, 2016 07:12pm
@ali so would PTI do it in any other way !!! would they use PTI's money and spend it on public projects
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Apr 28, 2016 07:15pm
Great news. Very much needed motorway. Gateway to northern areas.
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Apr 28, 2016 07:18pm
This was badly and urgently needed. Travel on current road is nightmare.
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Apr 28, 2016 08:10pm
.Roads are the key to success of any country...when Roosevelt went to Germany after the second world war his eyes were turned when he saw the Germany's he came back to America and made more than a million miles roads...and see America now ...
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Apr 28, 2016 08:21pm
Good for kpk.They will have this motorway built by the federal govt,will have the swat express way built by the provincial govt,provincial govt already investing in education and health and already the best police force.This province in the near future will be the leading in Pakistan.
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Apr 28, 2016 08:24pm
NS rocks !
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Apr 28, 2016 08:43pm
Trying to hide your face from Panama Leaks corruption wont work anymore PM,
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Apr 28, 2016 08:44pm
Any project for Karachi in all 5 years ?
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Apr 28, 2016 09:00pm
https://panamapapers.icij.org/the_power_players/?lang=en#19
best read this ...
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Apr 28, 2016 09:05pm
@ishtiaq - only few people have private planes to fly with hence they don't need roads. We ordinary people need roads, infrastructure. So keep it up PM Nawaz Sharif, God bless you.
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Apr 28, 2016 09:32pm
@Wali Punjab is far ahead in implementing education reforms and ensuring higher enrollment. So they are investing on it as well.
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Apr 28, 2016 09:34pm
@Karachiite Karachi Hyderabad project and Green line both being being by funded by federal goverment
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Apr 28, 2016 10:06pm
These all programs are for deceiving the public and attempts the steal election on the basis of public money !
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Apr 28, 2016 10:25pm
So 120 kms of road takes 13,300 cr to make ? That's about 7000 cr Indian rupees or about 60 cr INR per km. Is that ok or poor ?
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Apr 28, 2016 10:51pm
The world Bank said yesterday News in Today Dawn...that the Pakistan economy is on the right path to succeed and give positive results...Fantastic...keep it up Nawaz Sharif. Pakistan is God gifted and will go up and up..all the opposition parties do not have any plan except working on enemy agenda...Pakistan will follow Turkey and Malaysia soon to enter development...Inshahallah
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Apr 28, 2016 11:43pm
Why is NS so interested in Mega projects rather than education and health care. There can be no progress without education and health care. Pakistan has the lowest spending on education in south Asia. What a shame.
Is it that it is easy to skim money for overseas off shore accounts on large Mega Projects
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Apr 29, 2016 12:05am
Does mian sahib have ego issues ? Other than to travel to UK and road inaugurations,even those built by Chinese does he have any other function to perform as PM of Pakistan.
I wonder if Pakistanis have designed and built anything on their own without handouts or copy right infringement .
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Apr 29, 2016 04:52am
Why in the world inaugurations takes place before the completion of projects? staging huge jalsas using taxpayers money that could be used for some poor people!
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Apr 29, 2016 04:53am
@Razor 1 .Can u elaborate on the education reforms?
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Apr 29, 2016 05:05am
I'm from Dhodial, currently residing in Abbottabad. I supported PTI and Imran Khan in the last election financially and with my vote at the ballot. It is really sad to say that PTI has done absolutely no developmental work in KPK in general and Hazara Division in particular.
All the talk about getting rid of corruption and good governance is really nice, but at the end of the day, you have to show people what you have done for them, and sadly in that regard, PTI is all talk and no real measures.
It used to take 1.5 hours from Haripur to Dhodial, not too long ago, now it can easily take in excess of 5 hours. The road between Abbottabad and Mansehra is literally nonexistent. People are really tired of dharnas and holier than thou speeches.
Great initiative by the PMLN government and really hope it will be a great relief for the people, once this road is constructed.
As far as PTI is concerned, fool me once, shame on you; fool me again, shame on me.
Umer Khan
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Apr 29, 2016 06:52am
Great, no electricity, no schools, no clean drinking water, no medical care nor hospitals, no jobs for youth, no explanation regarding allegations revealed in the Panama leaks. Lowest literacy rate in the region, people plagued by hunger and disease. Good going Mr. Prime minister.
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Apr 29, 2016 11:49am
A 6 lane motorway beyond Havellian will probably damage the fragile Eco systems of these hilly areas besides destabilizing the cultural and geographical environment. For hilly areas 2 ( or at most 4 ) lane expressway is the most common choice in the developed world. In motorway euphoria, permanent and irreversible damage could be done to environment. Scientists, concerned citizens and all stake holders should come forward for a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment Report before starting the venture
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Apr 29, 2016 02:12pm
nothing changed in KPK under PTI ......at least NS makes roads for our convenience....thanks man.....i was sick of driving on GT road from hasanabdal to thakot....now life would be much easier IA....
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Apr 29, 2016 02:26pm
Good job. Building roads boosts trade, creates jobs, improves economy and makes traveling safe and easy for tourism. All the related industries will become an economic necessity thus providing a snowball affect for growth and prosperity of local residents. Good job by PML-N indeed.
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