The World Bank (WB) has agreed in principle to finance Peshawar-Kabul Motorway, but non-cooperation from Afghanistan is repeatedly delaying the project, said Chairman National Highway Authority (NHA) Shahid Ashraf Tarar.
“Pakistan is carrying the feasibility study with its own resources, but Afghanistan is not cooperating”, said chairman NHA while briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Communications. The committee met with Muzammil Qureshi in the chair.
The committee was further informed that the impression of ignoring Balochistan province with respect to development works was not correct as the province got the lion’s share in road development projects.
Tarar said that work on the D.I. Khan-Zhob project under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will begin by the end of current year. Ministry of Communications has launched most of its projects in Balochistan among all provinces.
Balochistan will be connected to other provinces via new projects very soon, said Chairman NHA, adding that the residents of Khuzdar had to travel via Karachi for Sukkar and it was terrible situation for them to face but now Khuzdar-Sukkur direct road will be inaugurated very soon. M-8 had already been completed and now it takes 6 hours to travel over 650 km.
It was also told to the Committee that Kuchlak by pass construction has begun.
The committee recommended for the completion of Chakdara-Kalam road on priority basis because residents of area are facing trouble during travel.
The Committee was told that the Karachi Green line project is in progress. Phase-I of Green line will be completed by November 2017 and Phase-II by April 2018. If provincial government is able to purchase buses for the project,it would be operational by November 2017 for the facilitation of residents.
Committee directed for continuous coordination with the provincial government so that people of Karachi could avail benefits of these national projects on time.
The Committee was told that the climate challenges have been considered in the project. 800 trees have been planted and more than 18 thousand new trees will be planted.
The total length of the route from KESC Power House, Surjani Town to Municipal Park, M.A Jinnah Road is 21.7 km – a dedicated BRT corridor with 10 kms at-grade and 11.7 krns (10.7 Kms + 1 Km Board Office Interchange I loop) of elevated sections.
The committee was further briefed that it will have 33 bus stations provided with all necessary facilities including covered escalators, stairs, elevators, modern ticket counters, waiting area and other passenger amenities.
After completion of the project, Karachi will have its first-ever mass transit system that will provide timely and convenient service to the commuters with 400,000 daily passengers.
Project’s Design up to Guru Mandir has been completed. The procurement process of contracts from Guru Mandir to Municipal Park are also completed and work is at the stage of commencement. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) stands approved, procurements done under transparent procedure strictly follow Public Procurement Rules, 2004 and that eight (08) procurement packages have been awarded at a competitive cost.
It was briefed before the Committee that with the aid of Asian Development Bank, the phase–I from Mardan to Sawabi of Peshawar-Topi road will start soon. Standing Committee directed to expand the road which connects Liyari Expressway to M-9 because Al-Asif Squire to Suhrab Goat road is incapable to bear traffic load.
The Committee was informed that the work is divided into four parts. This road will be completed in 18 months with the addition of 22 new bridges.
so those bomb blast aren’t enough that government wants increased Afghan meddling? Better remove all Afghan and seal shut the border