WHAT exactly is the package for construction industry announced recently with a lot of fanfare by the prime minister? To me, it is going back on his own words when he used to severely criticise the previous government for having spent everything on roads.

Now somehow he is convinced that road building is a big source of employment for labourers. It seems funny, but actually it is yet another u-turn.

Roads are, in fact, one of the main factors which determine the development of any area. Look what a road connecting a village to the main highway can do in the day-to-day lives of its inhabitants. Villagers’ travel time to the nearby cities has been reduced considerably.

Their children have the opportunity for education in better institutions located in cities. Farm-to-market approaches are made convenient and commute time is also reduced. In fact, their whole lifestyle has changed for good.

Now that the prime minister has realised the importance of this communication system, especially to far-flung areas, I request him to show a big heart and order completion of the leftover projects of the previous government.

I will not mention Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif of being instrumental in starting these projects for obvious reasons. The road from Peshawar Mor to the new Islamabad airport meant for metro bus needs to be completed. About 90 per cent of work on this road is already complete but was stopped two years ago.

Similarly, the expansion of up to four-lane each side, and the extension of Islamabad Expressway from the old airport turning up to G.T. Road is also held up for the same reasons. The same may be completed at the earliest for the convenience of the public.

Cdre (r) Sajjad Ali Shah Bokhari
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2020