GIS Introduced in NHA to Optimise Revenues & Ensure Transparency: Murad Saeed

ISLAMABAD, Aug 17 (APP): Minister for Communications and Postal Services Murad Saeed on Monday said that a landmark Geographic Information System (GIS) has been introduced in the NHA to optimize its revenues and bring transparency in the institution.

Addressing the launching ceremony of Geographic Information System of National Highways Authority (NHA), he said that it was a revolutionary step under which digitisation of all complete information regarding utilities and commercial amenities in the Right of Way (ROW) of the NHA network has been done.

About the two year performance of the NHA, he said that in comparison with the last two years of the PML-N government, the first two years of the PTI government had built 546 kilometer more roads which were the difference of 48.2 per cent. Murad Saeed said that the past two years performance of the NHA was exemplary as the government had taken steps to strengthen the national institutions.

He said  Sukkur-Hyderabad (M-6) Motorway will bring a development revolution in interior Sindh. He said that the 306-KM will be constructed on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis while construction of Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway would start soon and after its completion commuters would enjoy motorway facility from Peshawar to Karachi.

NHA has also planned to build Sialkot-Kharian and Kharian Rawalpindi Motorways on BOT basis and their feasibility studies would be completed this year. Similarly Balkasar-Mianwali road and Mianwali-Muzafargarh Road would be dualized under the PPP model, he said. He said Multan-Muzafargarh-D.G. Khan road was also being planned to be built on the PPP-BOT model.

He said that work on the Western alignment of China Pakistan Corridor has become a reality and many more road projects in Balochistan are under process. He said that Phase-II of the Swat Motorway would be launched by the end of this year.

Murad Saeed said a welfare state based on justice and compassion was the vision of Imran Khan and provision of shelter to the homeless people through Panaghahs was a step towards that direction. The minister said that now number of Panahgahs had reached a 200 figure and were providing residence to the labour class and those coming in search of jobs, he added.

Prime Minister Imran Khan launched the Ehsaas Nash-o-Numa programme last week under which there is provision of satisfactory food for deserving pregnant women and children below 2 years of age, and quarterly stipend for children would be given.

He said that during the past one week many good news were given which included a record increase in remittances. The Pakistan Stock Exchange has emerged as the second fastest growing market of the world. He mentioned Moody’s declaring Pakistan economy as stable, revival of economy despite corona virus, and the signing of the agreement for up-gradation of ML-1 rail track.

He said trade deficit decreased, and current account deficit was controlled. He said that the corona virus curve was flattened as a result of timely and effective decision making and appropriate measures by the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan. He said that the most modern housing project in the history of Pakistan, “Ravi City” had been inaugurated near Lahore and Peshawar residents had been provided access to state-of-the-art and fully self-sufficient means of transportation in the form of BRT.

He said that the foundation stone of Diamer Bhasha Dam had been laid, and dozens of small water reservoirs were being prepared to meet water and power needs of the country. As a first major step towards providing cheap electricity to consumers, the government signed a basic agreement with Independent Power Producers (IPPs). He said that $1.5 billion were saved in Karkey project which were equal to Rs240 billion whereas Rs 400 billion were saved in Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC). Moreover he said Rs604 billion would be saved in new agreement with Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

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