RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The state minister for communications Murad Saeed on Sunday said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government would complete all projects of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and there would be no delay in it.

Speaking at a presser, he said that reforms are being introduced in the communication sector besides eradicating the menace of corruption which has destroyed all the institutions especially the communications sector.

He said that six projects were being sent for third party audit while thirty four other completed projects would be scrutinized. He said e-billing would be introduced to curb the corruption culture.

Saeed said that reasons behind delay in 34 projects, due to which their cost increased, would also be determined and the responsibilities to be fixed.

In order to implement the Prime Minister’s austerity drive, the ministry would auction all its 42 luxury vehicles along with 177 others, which were used by the senior officials of the ministry and would save Rs30 million being spent on the maintenance of these vehicles.

He said that rest houses in Kaghan and Naran would be given on rent to generate revenue. He said the lake in front of these guest houses would also be used for the promotion of water sports and revenue generation. He said anti-encroachment campaign would be launched to free the properties and land of National Highways and Motorway.

Saeed said that trees would be planted along motorways and highway as per Green Pakistan vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan. He reiterated to ensure standards and quality in mega infrastructure development projects and complete them within the given timeframe.

The minister said that his ministry would also contribute in Prime Minister’s billion tree programme in collaboration with other stakeholders. He said special measures would be adopted to ensure the survival of these trees. He said survival audit would also be conducted for these plants.

The minister said that in future, the development projects would be initiated on BOT and public private partnership mode keeping focus on the agriculture development, tourism promotion and ensuring environmental protection.

He revealed that initiation of the development projects would help to provide job opportunities for skilled and semi-skilled workforce in the country which would also help in fulfilling the PM’s 10 million job creation vision.

Saeed said that the ministry is also launching mobile application within 45 days, which would provide the details of the projects including their cost and time of completion and amount released for the projects in order to ensure transparency, enhance sense of ownership by the general public.

The NHA would also launch another mobile phone application ‘Pasban’, which would keep updated the road users about the weather and road conditions across the country to facilitate the passengers as well as make their journey more safe and square.

He said that NHA was also working in two development projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. He said their completion within the given time would be ensured by maintaining the quality of the work.