Karachi- Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed resolve of the Government to address the challenges of terrorism, energy and economy.

He was addressing the earth-breaking ceremony of Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway as part of the overall project of Karachi-Lahore Motorway, near Karachi this afternoon. The international standard motorway would be completed in thirty months.

The Prime Minister said it his desire to complete Karachi-Peshawar Motorway, during his present tenure and extend it further to Kabul. He said he talked to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in this regard who expressed his readiness for collaboration with Pakistan for its construction.

Mian Nawaz Sharif said preparatory work is underway for launching of Khunjerab-Gwadar Motorway as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project. The Prime Minister said there is also plan for construction of Malir Expressway, which would begin from court complex and join M-9 enabling commuters to approach the motorway in the shortest possible time.

He said resources are being mobilized for launching of Hyderabad-Sukkur portion of Karachi-Lahore Motorway. Sukkur-Multan portion is part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and work on this section would begin soon. FWO would take up construction of Multan-Lahore section of the motorway.

He expressed the confidence that construction of a network of motorways would help promote national unity and solidarity.

The Prime Minister said a number of projects are planned to ensure elimination of load-shedding by 2017. For this purpose, ten thousand megawatts of electricity would be added to the national grid by then. He said 3600 MW would be generated through imported LNG, while there are also plans for import of 4000 MW from China. Steps are being taken for installation of power plants based on Thar coal.

Mian Nawaz Sharif said the Government is also committed to defeat terrorists. Pakistan Army has launched operation Zarb-e-Azb, to wipe out terrorism from the country.

Earlier, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has laid the foundation stone of first phase of Karachi-Lahore Motorway project. This phase from Karachi to Hyderabad will be completed at a cost of thirty six billion rupees in two and a half years.