ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif will inaugurate the completed section of Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway (M-9) on Friday

According to a press release issued by PM House on Wednesday, the 75 km completed section of M-9 has 4 interchanges; Dada Bhoy Interchange, Industrial Valley Interchange, Nooriabad Interchange and Thano Bola Khan Interchange.

These interchanges will provide access to various areas including Keer Thar National Park, Jhmpeer, Kinjhar Jheel and Thano Ahmed Khan.

In addition, 5 bridges and 2 trauma centres at Nooriabad and Damba Goth have been completed. The 136 km Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway project commenced on Sep 17, 2015 and was expected to be completed by March 17, 2018 at a cost of Rs 36 billion.

Construction on the 120 km Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway has started including interchanges, 5 bridges, 197 km service road and plantation on 40 km. At present, the government is spending Rs 1200 billion on various roads infrastructure, which will change the economic outlook of the country. The under construction motorway projects include Thakot-Havelian, Lahore-Abdul Hakeem (M-3), Sukkur-Multan Motorway (M-5), Gojra-Shorkot and Shorkot-Khaniwal.

After the completion of these projects, the total length of all the motorways will reach 2000 km.

Under the direction of the prime minister, National Highways Authority is pro-actively pursuing these projects of immense national importance.

Keeping the strategic location of Pakistan in consideration, the government has started some revolutionary projects like China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) consisting of a long network of motorways and expressways from Khunjrab to Gwadar.-NNI