PML-N’s obssesion with building white elephants to win elections

[Naheed Janjua]

NEARLY 20 years after it opened, Pakistan’s first motorway still has a desolate feel. There is scant traffic along the 375 KM link between Islamabad and Lahore (pictured). Motorists can drive for miles without seeing another vehicle, save perhaps for traffic cops manning speed traps. As the two cities are already connected by the Grand Trunk Road, which is 90 KM shorter and toll-free, there is simply not much demand for a motorway.

Yet this $1.2bn white elephant is one of the proudest achievements of Nawaz Sharif, who was prime minister when it opened in 1997 and is once again running Pakistan. Mr Sharif, who enjoys comparisons to Sher Shah Suri, a 16th-century ruler who renovated the Grand Trunk Road, never tires of talking about it. He regained power in 2013 with a campaign which both harked back to his famous road and promised more infrastructures to come. He even pledged bullet trains that would enable pious passengers to leave Karachi after dawn prayers and arrive in Peshawar, more than 1,000km to the north, in time for evening worship.

to read full story check out author goes onto talk about CPEC: PML-N’s obssesion with building white elephants to win elections

Will PML-N win 2018 election through CPEC by doing the same? - Is this the reason why they have not allowed/spent much effort on western front to allow KPK to progress so that Imran cannot show progress there?

 

[I.R.A]

There is scant traffic along the 375 KM link between Islamabad and Lahore (pictured).

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaattttttttttttttttt .................... I must be an idiot who sees those imaginary vehicles blocking my way at Toll plazas........................

KHUDA ka wasta hay ilzam to koi dhang ka lagao ........

 

[SBD-3]

"Pakistan’s long-term development depends on “better nutrition, health and education"
Pakistan is already suffering from an oversupply of graduates. If industry and infrastructure doesn't grow how would you channel this potentially bigger oversupply?

 

[Tiger Awan]

NEARLY 20 years after it opened, Pakistan’s first motorway still has a desolate feel. There is scant traffic along the 375 KM link between Islamabad and Lahore (pictured). Motorists can drive for miles without seeing another vehicle, save perhaps for traffic cops manning speed traps. As the two cities are already connected by the Grand Trunk Road, which is 90 KM shorter and toll-free, there is simply not much demand for a motorway.

Are you living in earth 2 ?? The number of lies (or alternative facts ) in this paragraph ...... Man .....

 

[Sufian Qazi]

They ought to invest in Human capital.

 

[Jugger]

They ought to invest in Human capital.

Some economic and land reforms will also be beneficial