LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Friday inaugurated the Rs24.40 billion southern loop of the 22.4km long Lahore Ring Road, calling it the biggest project in private-public partnership model that would benefit over 100,000 commuters a day.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, the CM said construction of the road was a huge project that the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) was able to finish within a year. He said this project was a 25-year FWO lease and they would meet their expenses through income from commuters while the financial gap would be met by the Punjab government.

“This only proves how different national institutions can cooperate and do wonders with unity of purpose and action,” he told a select group of audience that had gathered there.

“People sometimes taunt me and the PML-N for concentrating only on infrastructure projects. But they must realise that it is an integrated approach where universities and hospitals being built are connected with efficient roads and all of them become part of integrated development,” he added.

Shahbaz agreed with the earlier assertion of the FWO chief that only Annual Development Plans (ADP) could not take care of developmental needs of the country. The government must opt for private-public partnerships, as done by the FWO, which completed it on Build, Operate and Transfer basis for 25 years.

Advising his opponents, he said: “We should not waste time of the people through hollow slogans and subversive activities. Let us join hands to develop the country. Completing a three-year project in one is euphemistically called ‘Punjab speed’. We should try to convert it into ‘Pakistan speed’. If we all join hands, there is no reason why Pakistan cannot rival Turkey or Malaysia in development.”

The chief minister also claimed that the Ring Road was one of the best roads, aesthetically. “Development is not only bricks and cement, but beautification as well. This road has solar panels for operational purposes, LED lights, fog reflectors and attractive horticulture all along the route. On top of it, it was connected to Safe City Project, giving it an additional sense of security,” he said.

Earlier, the commissioner and chairman of the Lahore Ring Road Authority, Abdulllah Khan Sumbal, claimed that the authority was able to save over Rs6.58 billion in the project through land swap with housing colonies falling on the route. They were also able to weather all problems – legal or physical – in developing a six-metre-high, 90-metre wide road with six lanes only because of untiring effort of the team and support from the Punjab government.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2017