MANSEHRA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will inaugurate work on the Rs45 billion Mansehra-Muzaffarabad Motorway soon, said PML-N MNA Sardar Mohammad Yusuf here on Tuesday.

“This mega communication project was approved in 2016 by the then prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, but the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government scrapped it under the pretext of a shortage of funds. Our [PML-N’s] government has included it in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor initiative,” Mr Yusuf told reporters here.

He said the PML-N government in the centre was committed to transforming the socioeconomic conditions of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will inaugurate this road project,” he said.

Mr Yusuf said Rs45 billion was allocated for the Mansehra-Muzaffarabad Motorway, which would be extended to other AJK parts in the second phase.

He said the project would not only play a pivotal role in the region’s prosperity and development but would also create a boom in the tourism industry in AJK and KP.

The MNA said the construction of the 27km motorway would significantly reduce travel time between KP and AJK.

He said according to surveys conducted by authorities, two tunnels spanning 4.3km would also be part of the state-of-the-art road project.

Mr Yusuf said that 11 bridges would be constructed on the motorway to connect KP with AJK.

“Our party believes in achieving prosperity and development through such mega projects. Unfortunately, the PTI government scrapped all our initiatives, which we have revived, now. Our federal government is actively earmarking funds for these projects,” he said.

KILLED: Two people were killed and seven critically injured when a car and a wagon collided head-on at Ichrian Interchange of the Hazara Expressway here on Monday night.

“We have shifted all nine injured to a health facility where two of them died,” Rescue 1122 official Sami Khan told reporters on Tuesday.

He said speeding led to the accident.

The accident occurred as the driver lost control of the wagon causing it to collide with the oncoming car, critically injuring nine people, including three women.

The wagon was bound for Mansehra from Battagram, according to Mr Khan.

He said the Rescue 1122 personnel shifted the injured to the King Abdullah Teaching Hospital in ambulances but the doctors pronounced Imamul Haq and Haq Nawaz dead and referred Tanveer Ahmad, Zakia Bibi, Fatima Bibi, Sania Bibi, Samiullah, Mohammad Jamshad and another to Ayub Medical Complex Abbottabad due to critical injuries. The condition of three injured was stated to be critical.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2024