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Karachi, March 29, 2018 (PPI-OT): PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has urged Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to take his statement back which he had delivered against Chairman Senate. This he said while talking to media just after formally inaugurated Rs8.8 billion Karachi Thatta Dual Carriageway Road in a ceremony organised at Ghaffar. He was accompanied by Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, Provincial ministers Nasir Shah, Imdad Pitafi, party leaders and others.
Replying to a question, Bilawal Bhutto said that Prime Minister was a reasonable person. He shouldn’t have delivered such irresponsible statement against Chairman Senate. He urged him to take his statement back, otherwise it would have negative impact on institutions. To another question, the chairman said that the meeting of prime minister with Chief Justice of Pakistan would be based on saving the skin of Nawaz Sharif. He added that the Chief Justice was the man of principles and he would upheld rule of law.
Talking about Nawaz Sharif, Bilawal Bhutto said “when he embroils in difficult situation he lies in your feet but when he comes into power he catches you by your collar,” he said and went on saying this has been his [Nawaz] policy and “this time we are not going to save him,” he said clearly. Talking about 18th amendment roll back and delay in election, the chairman said that ISPR has given clear statement. “There is no threat to democracy and election would be held in time,” he hoped.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto congratulated Chief Minister on constructing Karachi-Thatta dual carriageway in a shorted time period. “Sindh government services people but doesn’t do Showbazi [an oblique reference of Shahbaz Sharif],” he said and added Shahbaz Sharif spends millions of rupees on his personal publicity while Sindh government avoids it.
The chairman said that the Sindh government through Benazir Income Support Programme has steered 600,000 families out of poverty. He lauded the services of Sindh government in health sector. He named NICVD and its satellite centers and JPMC Cancer unit as some of the best institutions.
Bilawal Bhutto said that people of Pakistan know that it is PPP which knows how to fight against terrorists and crush them, it is PPP which knows how to formulate foreign policy and how to stabilise economy and strengthen the institutions. “We are going to contest general election on the basis of our strength among masses and on the basis of our political maturity and Inshallah we would return,” he said.
Earlier, the chairman PPP flanked by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Provincial Ministers, party leaders unveiled the plaque of the road amid slogans of ‘Jeay Bhutto’. He then took drive through visit of the road and his vehicle was drives by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah. The Project was launched by Government of Sindh in 2015 under Public Private Partnership Mode. After the successful completion of comprehensive bidding process the Government of Sindh joined hands with the reputed Frontier Works Organization and the construction works started on 02 May, 2016.
The scope of the project is limited to developing 49.5 Kms dualized carriageway road from Ghaghar Phatak to Makli bypass, Thatta. The project includes 15 bridges, 3 pedestrian bridges in urban centers, 12 bus stops and access roads to connect the towns and villages along the route. The project has been completed with a cost of PKR 8.85 Billion in record time of 20 months and will be maintained by FWO for 25 years based on DBFOT mode i.e. Design, Built, Finance, Operate and Maintain basis.
This new corridor will open up new avenues of progress and prosperity in the area. It will reduce the commuting time by 50 minutes, dualization of the road will provide safe and better ridership for commuters and at the same time improve the movement of goods from farms and agricultural lands to urban markets in Karachi. The importance of the project extends beyond the province of Sindh to the whole country due to its connection with That Coal Mines. The project introduces an accessible route for Thar Coal Field Areas from Karachi through Thatta, Islamkot and Mithi.
For more information, contact:
Press Secretary,
Chief Minister House, Sindh
Tel: +92-21-99202019 (Ext: 336)
Website: www.cmsindh.gov.pk