Summary Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said politicians and the Khawaja Asif Says Politicians, Administration Must Work Togetheradministration must work together, announcing progress on the Sialkot Ring Road a
SIALKOT (Dunya News) – Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has stressed the need for politicians and the administration to work together, saying development projects can only move forward through collective efforts.
Speaking to the media in Sialkot, Khawaja Asif said work on the first phase of the Sialkot Ring Road will begin soon, while the Kharian-Rawalpindi Motorway project has entered the implementation stage. He said both projects would bring transformative change to the city and further strengthen Sialkot's economic importance.
He said several union councils would directly benefit from the ongoing development schemes, adding that the process of transforming the region had already begun.
The defence minister said the relevant authorities had been directed to ensure the timely implementation of already approved development projects so they could be completed without delay.
Khawaja Asif said the Rs205 billion contract for the Kharian-Rawalpindi Motorway has been awarded to the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), while construction of the bridge over the Chenab River is in its final stages.
He said Sialkot had long been neglected due to the absence of a direct link with the GT Road, but former prime minister Nawaz Sharif addressed that issue by connecting the city to the motorway network.
According to the minister, the first phase of the Ring Road will connect Wazirabad Road, Daska Road, Pasrur Road and Kashmir Road, helping ease traffic congestion and boost commercial activity.
Khawaja Asif said Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had not delayed Sialkot's development projects despite financial constraints, for which he and the people of Sialkot were grateful. He also thanked the federal government and the prime minister for approving and advancing the motorway project.
He added that the military leadership also played an important role in securing approval and funding for the Kharian-Rawalpindi Motorway, saying the project was significant for both regional economic development and national defence.
The defence minister said the Ring Road would connect the city's industrial areas, export sector, airport and motorway network, significantly improving traffic flow, while other ongoing development projects would also be completed through joint efforts.
