Daily Times

Shorkot Section of Faisalabad-Khanewal Motorway (M-4) has been opened to traffic here on Saturday. This is an important project of National Highway Authority, Ministry of Communications. Speaking with media, Parliamentary Secretary for Communications Mian Muhammad Shafiq, Chief Whip National Assembly Malik Aamir Dogar and MNA Riaz Fatyana said the project has connected Southern Punjab with Federal Capital and Sindh. The project will provide opportunities of socio-economic development to the developing areas of this [South Punjab] whole area. Distinguished personalities of the area Chairman NHA Jawwad Rafique Malik, Inspector General National Highway and Motorway Police Allah Dino Khawaja, senior officers of Ministry of Communications, National Highway Authority, National Highways and Motorway Police and local administrators were also present there.

It was stated that a coordinated road network undoubtedly plays vital role in socio-economic uplift, and that project of Faisalabad-Khanewal Motorway possesses an extra ordinary significance for over all development of this area. This 4 lane motorway will not only accelerate pace of economic activity but also provide a shorter route to textile industry for regional trade and connectivity.

The project will bring about new opportunities of economic development in Faisalabad, Gojra, Jhang, Shorkot and Toba Tek Singh thus generating new chances of employment. The project will also pave the way to take agriculture products of this region to the big markets of the country. The project will also connect Southern Punjab with already operational Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway (M-1), Islamabad -Lahore Motorway (M-2) and under construction Lahore-Abdul Hakeem Motorway (M-3) while distance between Multan and Twin Cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi will also be reduced. It was further reiterated that Fasaialabad-Khanewal Motorway will cast far-reaching positive effects on national economy.

Chairman National Highway Authority Jawwad Rafique Malik apprised that length of Gojra-Shorkot section of M-4 is 61 Km, and this 4 Lane section is divided into two parts. Gojra-Jamani portion is 31 Km and its contract cost was Rs. 8.35 billion while it was completed at cost of Rs. 7.45 billion. Likewise contract cost of 30 Km second portion Jamani-Shorkot was Rs. 9.05 billion, while it had been completed with Rs. 8.65 billion, thus a total saving of Rs. 1300 million achieved. In addition, 3 interchanges and 09 major bridges are built on this motorway with designed speed of 120km/hours.

Published in Daily Times, February 3^rd 2019.