ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday performed the groundbreaking of the rehabilitation and upgradation of the Jhal Jaho-Bela road project located in Balochistan.
Addressing a groundbreaking ceremony in Islamabad, the prime minister said the project was necessary for Balochistan whose development was neglected by previous governments.
He said due to the vast area of Balochistan, development could not be pursued there without first connecting the region. “The government which only thinks of its five-year election will never develop Balochistan,” he said.
The prime minister said if Balochistan was to be developed, it would have to be seen as a part of Pakistan and all areas of the country would have to be raised up similarly.
He explained that raising neglected and backward areas up would not only benefit them but the entire country as well. “We can raise these areas when development is funneled to those areas which have been left behind,” he added.
He also blamed the province’s politicians for the situation, saying they were also concerned about development in their constituencies for the sake of electoral success instead of thinking about Balochistan.
“A country cannot become strong and move forward until there is equitable development which raises all parts of the country,” he said adding the current government has tried to help those areas been left behind.
PM Imran Khan further said the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had been tasked with investigating which individuals embezzled funds from road construction projects in the country.
“I have tasked my team to fully investigate money stolen on roads. I have also given the FIA the mandate to investigate and bring before the nation who is responsible,” the prime minister said.
He added that people should know how much they lose out on due to corruption. He said the per kilometre cost for the project was cheaper than the cost in the PML-N’s tenure despite inflation since then.
The 80-kilometre Jhal Jaho-Bela road is a project of Balochistan government to be completed by National Highway Authority. The two-lane road project will be completed in three years’ time at a cost of Rs11,835 million.
The completion of this project will facilitate the movement of Balochistan’s people to other areas and bolster their socio-economic as well as industrial, trade, agriculture, tourism, and cultural activities.
It will also provide 3,000 job opportunities to the local people. The road is also of immense importance to promote trade links with Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asian States.
