LARKANA, June 16: The federal government has released the first tranche of Rs4 billion out of Rs12 billion for starting work on a mega development package for Larkana, which will be completed in three phases.

Khursheed Junejo, the ambassador-designate for the UAE, said at a ground-breaking ceremony for gas supply to Dargah Mashori 10 kilometres from here on Sunday that the package mainly focused on laying roads network to connect Larkana with other towns and districts and improving existing intercity roads.

He said that the National Highway Authority had been tasked with completing work on the roads within three years. A dual carriage way from Moenjodaro airport to Madeji would be constructed and the Qambar-Shahdakdot, Ratodero, Naudero, Warah, Nasirabad, Dorki and other roads would be improved, he said.

These roads would be linked with the bridge being constructed over the River Indus near Purano Abad, and an industrial estate would be established near Jhukar-jo-daro on the Indus Highway, he said.

Pakistan People’s Party MNA Ramesh Lal, wo performed the ground breaking ceremony said that the PPP government had fulfilled the promise made by its slain leader Ms Benazir Bhutto during her visit to the shrine.

The Sui Southern Gas Company Regional Manager Saeed Larik said that the project would be completed at a cost of Rs10.8 million and the villages through which the pipeline would pass would also benefit from it. It would serve a large population around the shrine, he said.