The Rs 32 billion Sambrial-Kharian Motorway would beget around 4,300 jobs and cater to around 23,000 vehicles per day.
The initial four-lane motorway would consist of five interchanges at Jalalpur Jattan, Pero Shah, Daulat Nagar, Galyana and Kharian.
The prime minister said Small and Medium Enterprises were the backbone of the national economy but unfortunately, they had to face impediments for their approval processes.
Regarding the construction of 69-km Sambrial-Kharian Motorway which would later be extended to Rawalpindi, would shorten Lahore-Islamabad distance by 100 kilometer comparing the existing M-2 Motorway.
He said additional 100 km stretch of M-2 Motorway was beyond consumption as it cost additional burden on economy in the form of imported fuel besides maintenance cost of vehicles during last 20 years.
He said the public private partnership mode would help save development fund which would be spent on other public welfare projects.
The prime minister also appreciated saving of Rs 12 billion (26 percent of project cost) through negotiation.
He said every project must be designed in accordance with its benefits for the people.
Lauding PTI government’s project of Swat Motorway, the prime minister said owing to the project, around 2.7 million people had visited the area during Eid days.
He said the country could generate huge revenue through prudent policies like promotion of tourism considering country’s huge potential.
Khan said so far the country was looking at the domestic tourism but once the road between Swat and Gilgit would be constructed, it would attract foreign tourists thus bringing foreign exchange.
Imran Khan said the tourism could fill the dollar gap until country’s exports reach to the desired level.
He appreciated the communications minister and National Highway Authority (NHA) for executing numerous projects within record time, even more than those who used to beg votes claiming credit of roads construction.
Communications Minister Murad Saeed told the gathering that it was the first motorway of North Punjab. After approval by the Central Development Working Party, the second phase would also be launched from Kharian to Rawalpindi this year.
Drawing a comparison between the PML-N and PTI government’s performance during first three years, the minister said PTI had constructed 1753km roads comparing 645 km by the PML-N government.
He said PTI planned 6118km road against just 858km by the PML-N. During the incumbent government regime, NHA also increased its revenue by Rs87 billion.
Murad Saeed said NHA had completed 29 projects this year and was also set to launch repair of around 4,000km roads soon.
NHA Chairman Khurram Agha explaining the features of the project said NHA had saved Rs 12 billion by bargaining the project cost from initial Rs 43 billion to 32 billion. Later, Frontier Works Organization, the contractor, also gave a voluntary concession of Rs one billion, he added.