The 8.5 km long Lowari Tunnel was inaugurated by Nawaz Sharif in July 2017. It ended the winter isolation of the Chitral district, which was previously cut off from the rest of the country for six months every year due to snow on the Lowari Pass.
1492
In 2017, Pakistan became a full member of which regional security and economic alliance?
Pakistan, along with India, was formally inducted as a full member of the SCO during the Astana Summit in June 2017. This was a major diplomatic achievement for the Nawaz Sharif government, providing a platform for regional security cooperation and counter-terrorism.
1493
Which operation was launched in February 2017 to eliminate the 'residual threat' of terrorism across the entire country?
Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad (Elimination of Discord) was launched on February 22, 2017, by General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Unlike the geographically focused Zarb-e-Azb, this was a nationwide intelligence-based operation aimed at eliminating sleeper cells and the latent threat of terrorism in urban centers.
1494
The 'Lyari Expressway' in Karachi, which remained incomplete for 15 years, was finally completed and opened in:
Nawaz Sharif and later Shahid Khaqan Abbasi prioritized the completion of the 38 km long Lyari Expressway. The final North-bound track was inaugurated in early 2018, providing a vital traffic corridor for the port city of Karachi.
1495
The 'Orange Line Metro Train' (OLMT) project in Lahore was funded primarily through a loan from which country?
The OLMT was Pakistan's first automated rapid transit system, built as a 'gift' project within the CPEC framework. It was funded by the Exim Bank of China and constructed using Chinese technology, though it faced several legal challenges regarding heritage sites.
1496
Who was the 'Foreign Affairs Advisor' to the Prime Minister who handled most diplomatic duties since there was no full-time Foreign Minister for years?
During the majority of the 2013-2017 period, Nawaz Sharif kept the portfolio of Foreign Minister with himself. Sartaj Aziz served as the Advisor to the PM on Foreign Affairs, acting as the de facto foreign minister during critical international engagements.
1497
Which status granted by the European Union in 2014 boosted Pakistan's textile exports by providing duty-free access?
Pakistan was granted the Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status by the EU in January 2014. This allowed duty-free access for over 6,000 Pakistani products to the European market, significantly benefiting the textile and garment sectors.
1498
Nawaz Sharif visited which country for the inauguration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May 2014?
In a rare diplomatic gesture, Nawaz Sharif traveled to New Delhi in May 2014 to attend the swearing-in ceremony of PM Narendra Modi. The visit was seen as an attempt to restart the stalled peace process and improve bilateral relations between the two nuclear neighbors.
1499
The 'Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project' finally reached completion and was inaugurated in which year?
The long-delayed 969 MW Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project was inaugurated in April 2018. It was a significant addition to the national grid, providing clean energy and helping to mitigate the power crisis.
1500
Which Pakistani regional city inaugurated its first Metro Bus service in early 2017 during the Nawaz administration?
The Multan Metro Bus was inaugurated by Nawaz Sharif in January 2017. It was part of the PML-N's urban development agenda, providing modern and affordable transport to the residents of South Punjab.
