HYDERABAD / KARACHI: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday used the platform for opening of a yet-to-be-completed project to attack his bitter political rival — though he did not name him while doing so.

“The people of Pakistan can well distinguish the dedicated and selfless leaders from those who have wasted time of the nation by impeding development through protests,” he said in clear reference to the style of politics pursued by the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

“Building the nation is no way a child’s play and requires utmost dedication and hard work, which we are delivering,” he said at the ceremony held for the inauguration of the 75-km-long section of the Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway near Nooriabad, said a press release issued by the Press Information Department.

Within hours of Mr Sharif’s thinly-veiled remarks, PTI chief Imran Khan came up with a rejoinder.

Using popular social media networking website Twitter, Mr Khan said: “In his desperation to escape from his Panama corruption, NS opening half of the Hyderabad-Karachi motorway only. Unheard of!”

The prime minister in his address also targeted the PTI leader’s slogan of ‘Naya Pakistan’. “Today, the people are witnessing the emergence of a new Pakistan with improved infrastructure and communication network, and we have given reality to this dream,” he said.

He said motorways were a lifeline to the economy and were significant in enhancing national unity by reducing the distances among people belonging to different parts of country. The premier said his government was focusing on its agenda of development and progress, paying no heed to the negative politicking around.

He said that the economy of a country depended a lot on a comprehensive road network. However, he regretted, those who travelled in routine through chartered aircraft were most critical of construction of motorways and roads.

“Such people have no realisation about the importance of roads for the common people, including farmers, workers and students, who daily travel through roads for jobs or education,” he said, apparently referring to the PTI leader who frequently travels by air.

Over 60 per cent work on the project has completed and work continues on remaining sections, including service roads, interchanges and other infrastructure.

He said the country would have a six-lane motorway from Karachi to Peshawar by 2019 which would boost the national economy and generate jobs.

Mr Sharif underscored the need for turning around the economy to provide employment opportunities to young people who were at the risk of being used by extremist elements.

He said that international financial organisations had appreciated the remarkable improvement in the country’s economy. Today, thousands of people were getting jobs in projects related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said, adding that the number of new jobs would multiply after completion of the economic corridor.

The prime minister appreciated the Frontier Works Organisation and the National Highway Authority for completing the assigned tasks before the stipulated time.

During an aerial view of the completed section, Mr Sharif said the road was of the international standard. He said plantation was being done on both sides of the completed section of the road. He said the work on other sections of the motorway would complete in 2-3 years.

The prime minister said his government’s primary focus was on development in Balochistan. He said the Gwadar port would be one of best ports in world.

The prime minister said 10,000MW of electricity would be added to the national grid this year. There is zero loadshedding for industries and soon power outages would become a thing of the past. Electricity was now being generated at half cost through LNG, coal, hydel, wind and solar power. The Diamer-Bhasha dam would help meet the future energy and water needs, he added.

The prime minister said work on the Thar coal project was going on at a fast pace.

Published in Dawn February 4th, 2017