ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the Hazara Motorway section from Shah Maqsood to Mansehra on November 18 (Monday).

Earlier the inauguration ceremony was scheduled to be held on Nov 15, but the later changes took place viewing engagement of PM Khan and the weather condition in the area, as confirmed by Chairman NA Standing Committee on Information Technology MNA Ali Khan.

From Burhan to Shah Maqsood is already completed. About 118.32 kilometers long Havelian to Thakot section was further distributed in three sections where 55 kilometer section from Havelian to Shankiari comprising 15-kilometer and 40 kilometres expressway which would be inaugurated by the PM Imran Khan on the November 18, 2019.

ON Nov 11, Minister for Communications and Postal Services Murad Saeed Monday had told the National Assembly that the project was earlier delayed because of design changes for personal people’s benefit whose properties were located along the motorway.

Also Read: NHA bans CNG and LPG vehicles on motorways

Responding to a point of order of member National Assembly of Pakistan Muslim League-N Murtaza Javed Abbasi, Murad Saeed had said he had referred the case of Hazara motorway to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and asked it to look into the causes of adding a bridge in the project for the personal benefit of some people.

The changes ordered by a former prime minister in the project led to delay and cost escalation, he had added.

He relayed that the inquiries ordered by him into the design changes in motorway projects led to recoveries of Rs10.8 billion.

Inordinate changes were also made in the motorway sections of Hakala – Dera Ismail Khan, Sukkur-Multan and Lahore Abdul Hakeem.

Murad had said those responsible for loss to the national exchequer should apologise.

He said in the last election he secured 172,000 votes, the highest in Pakistan and defeated the candidate of PMLN by 40,000 votes.

In August this year, the National Highway Authority had banned entry of vehicles, run on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fuel, on the motorways.

In a press release, the highway authority had made an announcement in this regard. It had said through the latest move, aimed at ensuring the safety of passengers, all such vehicles were restricted from travelling on the motorways.