New Balochistan in the making: PM

TURBAT: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday inaugurated 448km Hoshab-Sorab highway under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Addressing the inauguration ceremony in Turbat, the prime minister said not only is a new Balochistan in the making but also a new Pakistan, adding that the government is simply fulfilling the rights of the people of Balochistan.

‘Not only a highway but a game changer’

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the Hoshab-Sorab highway under CPEC would prove to be a game changer for the region. Lamenting that the province had largely been deprived of development in the past, the premier said the Hoshab-Sorab highway will be an important part of the western route of CPEC.

Drawing attention to the benefits of CPEC, the prime minister said economic activity will increase across Pakistan through traffic between Khunjerab and Gwadar. CPEC will offer new avenues for growth and opportunities in the region, he said.

The prime minister said the Pakistan government is working on some of the projects under CPEC as well. He added that most of the development projects have been completed during PML-N government.

The premier paid tribute to the people who had lost their lives constructing roads under CPEC.

He also announced construction of a new road linking Khushab to Awaran and Lasbela and another road between Panjgur and Prom. The new roads will be constructed by the federal and Balochistan governments, he added.

The CPEC is a mega project of USD 45+ billion, taking the bilateral relationship between Pakistan and China to new heights. The economic corridor is about 3,000 Kilometres long consisting of highways, railways and pipelines that will connect China’s Xinjiang province to rest of the world through Pakistan’s Gwadar port.

‘Mudslingers cannot serve the country’

Taking aim at the opposition, the prime minister said those who sling mud cannot serve the nation; they can only entertain the crowds.

“The public will decide who is serving them and who is simply playing with their emotions,” he said, adding that enemies of the state want to harm CPEC.

The prime minister said the Pakistan of 2018 will be very different from that of the past.

“Loadshedding has been reduced, terrorism has been defeated, peace and security situation is improving, the international community is paying attention to Pakistan,” he said.

The prime minister said PIA should launch Boeing service from Karachi to Turbat.

He also expressed good wishes for officers and youth of FWO.