ISLAMABAD, Jan 20: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Tuesday pledged to make the federal capital a truly model city with more greenery, beauty, infrastructure and recreational facilities for all age groups.

“We will bring revolution to Islamabad during the next few months as new roads and bridges will be constructed, the ‘green image’ of Islamabad will be enhanced, and the condition of basic civic amenities will be improved,” Mr Gilani said in a crowded inaugural ceremony of the Islamabad Highway (IHW).

Flanked by Federal Law Minister Farooq H. Naek, Benazir Income Support Programme Chairman Farzana Raja, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan and Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf, the prime minister appreciated the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for completing the 8km expressway before the stipulated time. He hoped it would provide a smoother passage to the heavy traffic entering and exiting the capital.

Mr Gilani said he was pleased to inaugurate the country’s first 10-lane highway that was initiated by the present government and was also completed by it.

“This is a fruit of the tree we have planted,” he said.

“It is a gateway to Islamabad and I congratulate the CDA and the contractor for the competency, will and ability displayed by them in construction of the highway that was completed in very difficult situation due to unavoidable VVIP movement on the road,” he said.

Like the contractor – Maaksons – has completed the road project well before its completion time, the government will also fulfil all its promises made with the nation, he said.

He stressed the need for providing recreation facilities to women, children and elder people through better development projects.

Highlighting Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Prime Minister Gilani urged the deserving families to benefit from the project by submitting the forms urgently, saying they would be given stipend applicable from November 2008.

Unveiling other social welfare projects planned by the government, he said the government would soon initiate a programme of health insurance for the poor, as it believed in providing basic necessities of life to the masses.

Speaking on the occasion, CDA Chairman Tariq Mehmood Khan said the Zero Point Interchange too would be completed six months earlier than the schedule, while planning for the 11th Avenue was near completion.

He announced that the Kashmir Highway would also be turned into a 10-lane expressway, while interchanges would be constructed on the 7th and 9th avenues.

He also announced underpasses on the I.J. Principal Road, while work on a mono-rail mass transit project for the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad will soon be initiated.

The CDA chief claimed that 10 new sectors would be opened in Islamabad, D-12 plots would be handed over to the owners, while work on sector I-14, I-15 and I-16 would be initiated.

Meanwhile, the prime minister also gave away appreciation certificates to Maaksons Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Wasim Khan, Nadeem Khan, Member Engineering Tahir Shamshad, Director-General (Works) Abdul Jabbar Milano and two other officials of the CDA.

Mr Gilani lauded the workers and engineers who completed the project five months in advance. He also unveiled the plaque.

The Islamabad Expressway will act as the main entry point to the capital through which 160,000 vehicles carrying around a million people will pass daily.