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ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmad on Friday spilled the beans on why the ruling party leadership was more focused on mega projects meant for infrastructural development.
“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has a vision for the country’s development. All over the world, countries which have best network of roads are considered developed. Therefore, the government is also following same vision and we want to show the world our development through construction of best roads.”
The minister made this statement while responding to a calling attention notice moved by the PTI lawmakers. The minister said it was only the PML-N government which paid attention to this crucial area of road’s development.
Ghulam Sarwar Khan raised the question as to why the communication division was being run without a fully designated minister.
“On one side the government says it considers the communication division crucial for development, but for the past two-and-a-half years, it’s being managed without a full-fledged minister,” he asked.
The PTI lawmaker highlighted alleged irregularities and corruption of Rs137 billion committed in NHA projects like Larkana package, Sukkur-Jacobabad, and land acquisition for Karachi-Lahore Motorway.
In response, the minister said these irregularities had been highlighted in audit objections and the government will take action.
Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2016
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Comments (68) Closed
Feb 20, 2016 10:16am
Building roads is how Huey Long became governor of Louisiana in the 1930s. People who didn't have roads will start voting PML-N.
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Feb 20, 2016 10:21am
Few ministers mean less financial burden on tax payers. Why some politicians in opposition do not understand this simple logic?
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Feb 20, 2016 10:25am
I can just cry over this naive statement which came from our policy makers. He so naively converted correlation to casualty. The developed countries manage to get revenues that allow them the liberty of investing in highways and roads. It is not the other way around that presence of highways trigger the development button and automatically improve healthcare, education and sanitation.
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Feb 20, 2016 10:44am
He is right. By using these, people will go and 'bring' electricity from other cities
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Feb 20, 2016 10:50am
“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has a vision for the country’s development. All over the world, countries which have best network of roads are considered developed"
And this is called Tunnel vision.
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Feb 20, 2016 10:53am
I wish the enemies of development in Pakistan understand that.
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Feb 20, 2016 10:55am
PMLN is busy in building roads and PTI is busy planting trees on around. That's how Pakistan is progressing from A least developed country to number one economy. You meant this? I like the sense of humor you have.
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Feb 20, 2016 10:59am
This government has wrong priority, there is no drinking water, no electricity, no sewer system, no health services for poor, no jobs. This government can't even manage Pakistan steel Mill and PIA, they are the best in taking loans and corruptions.
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Feb 20, 2016 11:03am
What absurd logic is this,the developed world are not considered developed for roads but for their industrial,scientific and educational prowess.Infrastructure is also important but those are run parallely and not like one finishes and other starts.Those parallel developments are done in many nations like China,India,Russia,Brazil,Indonesia,Malaysia,Vietnam,Phillipines etc.
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Feb 20, 2016 11:22am
It's the other way around. The most developed countries have good roads.
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Feb 20, 2016 11:27am
If this is the level of intelligence at the top, we should really be thankful of what we have!
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Feb 20, 2016 11:55am
Country with better literacy rate will survive better with good health, food . shelter and employment opportunities. I think one day will come when Pakistan will have nothing but good roads
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Feb 20, 2016 11:56am
There is no clean drinking water, No electricity, Airline and railways in Shamble. No safety of its citizens broad day light kidnapping. poor Governance and corruption on its best. If ever there is a Hall of Shame in pakistan , who will follow Zardari ?
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Feb 20, 2016 11:57am
I for one completely agree with Minister. In fact, countries with the best roads between the Prime Ministers house to the airport and to schools, colleges and place of businesses of the family members are the most developed in the world.
People using such roads DO NOT need schools, hospitals, jobs and feel so happy that they continue to vote such governments into power.
Let's have MORE roads. And rename the Ministry of Communications as Ministry of Eternal Happiness.
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Feb 20, 2016 12:03pm
I don't know if I should laugh or cry. Then on second though, he isn't the only one, I am sure the prime minister and his family does think this way. Since the day they came in to politics, what have they done other than yellow taxies, yellow tractors, yellow scooters for girls, over head bridges and roads are the only things which interested them.
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Feb 20, 2016 12:04pm
@Pakistani - This is not the top. These people belong to the bottom but, unfortunately, thy are sitting at the top.
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Feb 20, 2016 12:24pm
Unfortunately I have to agree with the statement in this instance, if that is the true intention. Importance of good and fast Transportation network can't be emphasised enough. As it is one of the arteries that contribute to sound economic growth. Movement of goods and people. Even developed countries like UK invest heavily on infrastructure to get economy going
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Feb 20, 2016 12:31pm
@Shaukat Ali Khan
Building economic structures first. Putting cart before the horse is not a plan for success , but a scheme to pocket money from public coffer.
PLM-n is a vehicle for Shariff family to get rich from public money.
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Feb 20, 2016 12:38pm
MashaAllah. Pakistan is progressing well.
Well done PMLN
Pakistan Zindabad!
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Feb 20, 2016 12:39pm
This represents the mentality of our tried leaders. They think beautiful metro buses, beautiful roads and capital cities make a country great. I don't even want to talk about what's wrong with this mentality, it's a given. But seriously... This is sad.
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Feb 20, 2016 12:44pm
Am I allowed to laugh at his statement? Please!!!
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Feb 20, 2016 12:49pm
Nice smooth roads are useless if people don't know how to drive, or cannot follow the traffic rules, like staying in their lanes, or no frequent lane changes, adhere to speed limits, respect signals, pedestrians and safety guidelines, and maintain their vehicles, without emitting toxic soot and smoke.
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Feb 20, 2016 12:54pm
This government is focusing on the projects where everybody gets something for himsel. Nobody cares for the Health, Education and Safety.
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Feb 20, 2016 01:17pm
Good system, established institutions like parliament, judiciary, bureaucracy, police, health, education, infrastructure make them developed
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Feb 20, 2016 01:23pm
Roads were developed after countries achieved a level of industrialization and economic progess and Not the other way round.
Whilst making roads and bridged with loans is not a great strategy however, prioritising it over basic education and health may constitute as a crime.
Good roads is an outcome of economic progress and not the source.
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Feb 20, 2016 01:32pm
good to read comments here having good amount of humour ....on a serious note , I am afraid people of this kind of thinking are sitting at the top. he lacks basic level of
teaching..
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Feb 20, 2016 02:26pm
Building roads in a big way to generate economic activitities with more people being employed and prosperity for the nation.But any type of corruption or mismanagement will ruin this good cause.
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Feb 20, 2016 02:29pm
@Shaukat Ali Khan - You seem to have understood what "development should be in Pakistan"- building roads and bridges with mega loans and corruption, not education, health and power!
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Feb 20, 2016 02:36pm
Thanks for your observation & suggestion, the infra-structure development should be through out Pakistan & not only in PUNJAB. All we see in the news these days are different projects of Punjab, this won't satisfy rest of the provinces. The PM & the cabinet should act equally for other provinces as well.
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Feb 20, 2016 02:42pm
The roads built by developed countries come after they have developed a decent and sustainable education, health , electricity, law & order infrastructure. Its all about priorities. People dont have electricity, proper food & health and their kids cant go to school.but then, who cares we'll have roads and metros like developed countries!
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Feb 20, 2016 02:52pm
An Ex President of China once said that if you want your country to be rich then build roads. The PM is doing the right thing and building a road infrastructure in Pakistan which is essential for economic expansion. It is the economic expansion which will bring jobs, business opportunities and prosperity to our country.
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Feb 20, 2016 03:37pm
@ZX Exactly my thoughts..
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Feb 20, 2016 03:41pm
wake up people of Pakistan, those who don't even know the definition of "developed" countries are sitting on the top of govts..
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Feb 20, 2016 04:33pm
Educate the people, dummy, and the roads will get built
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Feb 20, 2016 04:34pm
And these countries have lowest literacy as well. Just look at united states or any part ofbworld. They cant get 20 As in a levels while we can because we spent too much on education and now we will have roads too and we will beat united states both in education and roads. Hurray
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Feb 20, 2016 04:39pm
@Vectra
Well commented. I would add also less corruption in the Government affairs.
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Feb 20, 2016 04:41pm
Countries with highest literacy rate are DEVELOPED NOT ROARDS TO TRANSPORT SUGAR CANES TO THE MILLS, THAT'S WHY PAKISTAN HAS DEAF AND DUMN CABINATES AND YOU ARE ONE OF THEM.
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Feb 20, 2016 04:44pm
Can someone please ask him what does education do for a country, in his opinion?
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Feb 20, 2016 05:22pm
@Usher Yes it seems that PM is trying to lock the whole nation in a Tunnel so he and his party take every single cent from the people of this poor country.
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Feb 20, 2016 05:22pm
‘Countries with best roads are developed’ is generally correct but some 3rd world ‘Countries with best roads are' corrupt.
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Feb 20, 2016 05:38pm
@Lucky Star :The PPP Government under Zardari boasted the largest and world record holding cabinet of 90 Ministers and 144 advisers with the status of minister/minister of state!
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Feb 20, 2016 05:42pm
America developed after its network of Inter-State motorways started in the early 20th century. Same is the story of German Autobahns and development, and many other examples.
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Feb 20, 2016 06:09pm
@Aziz dude you forgot metro bus and orange train also made for the people who commute to work as servants in the PM's house.
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Feb 20, 2016 06:48pm
All developed countries made progress through human development and these minister can not even understand this basic logic.
I think they have obssessive compulsive disorder to make roads bridges buses etc.
Our literacy rate is down 4% and it is success story for such ministers as they want people to chose *sher* instead of *shaoor*.
They will never i vest in health and education.
Our luck..
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Feb 20, 2016 06:58pm
Actually it is way other way around,developed countries have best roads not the countries with best roads are developed. It is my opinion that at least an IQ test must be taken from so called Awaami Nimayida before they are sworn off as legislatures
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Feb 20, 2016 07:45pm
Perhaps a basic level of education should be a prerequisite before getting elected into parliament or any other law making body in the country ?
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Feb 20, 2016 08:34pm
Building infrastructure roads and bridges is as crucial as Hospitals and Schools.
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Feb 20, 2016 08:35pm
Karachi-Lahore-Islamabad-Peshawar should be connected thru Bullet train
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Feb 20, 2016 08:37pm
But why roads are bring built only in Lahore and Punjab but not elsewhere in the country??? This is another worse example of imperialism by PML-N
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Feb 20, 2016 08:38pm
Totally wrong ! Countries with least corruption are the most developed countries in the world ! PML N is notoriously famous for signing and completing projects with hefty kick backs and commissions !
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Feb 20, 2016 08:39pm
@probono Publico health and education are a paramount and should come first!!
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Feb 20, 2016 09:07pm
We know that countries with better roads,highways,bridges are more prosperous,but the countries you are referring have rulers free from corruption,and if corruption proved they are put in jail for min 14 years. Identical highways & bridges are built in Indian Punjab just check their costs.,almost half of ours after even taking currency value into account.We are not against roads,bridges,we are against corruption,
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Feb 20, 2016 09:12pm
So good roads lead to development or development leads to good roads? Or neither, a mere association.
He probably would not understand my question though!
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Feb 20, 2016 09:18pm
Countries with honest leaders are developed !
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Feb 20, 2016 10:11pm
Illiterate law makers cant think of anything other than roads. Developed countries dont have just the roads, and the law makers aren't to construct the roads, their job is to make / amend the laws for the betterment of people.
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Feb 20, 2016 10:35pm
Countries with best roads also have best education system, best health facility, best law and order.
Sheikh sahib has built 13 new speed breakers on the garbage roads on Attock City in his whole tenure.
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Feb 20, 2016 11:13pm
You are a genie genius honorable minister sahib! But can I ask if we are destined to have better roads than Saudi Arabia, Libya an Iraq? Why is there antagonization in these countries? Is it because of the presence of a better infrastructure or the absence of a better social contract; justice, health system and education? I don't think we are richer than these countries?
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Feb 20, 2016 11:29pm
Sorry Sir....countries with a sound educational base are developed countries.
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Feb 20, 2016 11:45pm
This so called minster needs to understand that the developed countries are like that not because of roads but they were developed enough first to build good roads by paying attention to health, education and justice system which are the building blocks for any developed country on earth. Pay attention to these three things and you will be successful not by building roads first.
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Feb 21, 2016 12:01am
The statement is correct but only in the right context.....
The "true"literacy rate of Pakistan is 5 percent when measured according to world standards. Keep this context in mind.
My 64 dollar question:With this kind of literacy what chance we have on the world stage?
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Feb 21, 2016 12:06am
He is doing what Sher Shah Suri did five centuries ago....built roads....great progress!
Long Live Pakistan and its rulers!
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Feb 21, 2016 12:12am
@Lucky Star valid logic, invalid application. if you want to save cost, the overall positions for ministers needs to be cut down. Filling three posts of ministries with a single minister will result in collapse of all three.
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Feb 21, 2016 01:33am
"Countries with best roads are called developed". But what would you call those countries that have best roads but no electricity, gas, clean water and healthcare????
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Feb 21, 2016 02:01am
@Truth well said.
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Feb 21, 2016 02:17am
I do agree with PML-N here.
Having a good transportation infrastructure is fundamental to growth and prosperity. Cannot go wrong here.
Roads provide more air and light to any closed society - translating to more produvtivity, more income, more social justice, better access to health etc.
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Feb 21, 2016 03:00am
You cave man, it's coubtties with educated people. You still think like moguhls build palaces instead of schools.
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Feb 21, 2016 04:30am
What a naive statement from an ignorant minister of a "devoid of vision" government!
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Feb 21, 2016 09:39am
@Atif Khan
Social justice?
It's useless to build roads unless its users are educated and careful.
Who will educate them?
Building bridges, metros, is a strategy to promote Ittifaq Foundary of Sharif Umpire.
You saw development of Roads and Transportation system in Mustufa Qamal's Era in Karachi? Now go and see how worst it has been.
It's useless to build something that you cannot maintain.
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