ISLAMABAD - The China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC) - a development megaproject which aims to connect Gwadar Port to China's Northwestern region of Xinjiang via a network of highways, railways and pipelines - has fetched Rs1961 million in the Public Sector Development Programme 2015-16.
Out of the total estimated cost of Rs3554 million of the project, the government would be spending Rs155 million as of June 30, 2015 and further Rs1961 million have been allocated in the PSDP 2015-16. The allocation shows government's interest in completing the project which is considered central to Pak-China relations, on priority basis. The project will run about 3,000 km from Gwadar to Kashgar in China.
The CPEC projects as shown in the PSDP include feasibility study (PC-II) for the construction of new rail link from Havelian in district Haripur to Pak-China border (682km) (Rs1 million); feasibility study for up-gradation of existing Main Line-II (Rs 300 million); comprehensive feasibility study for upgradation/rehabilitation of mainline-I and new dry port at Havelian (Buldhair) district Haripur (Rs270 million); acquisition of land for new dry port at Buldhair, district Haripur (Rs300 million); and PC-II for feasibility study to connect Gwadar with Karachi and feasibility study from Gwadar to Basima and from Basima to Jacobabad via Khuzdar (Rs10 million).
The CPEC project, according to the experts, will prove to be a game-changer and for this purpose work on Raikot-Islamabad road will also be launched during the next fiscal year. For this purpose, Rs29 billion have been allocated. Similarly, Rs10 billion have been allocated for the construction of Islamabad-DI Khan road.
The Corridor is an extension of China's proposed Silk Road initiative, which would go a long way in making Pakistan a richer and stronger economic entity than ever before, the experts believe.
The CPEC-related development schemes put in the PSDP 2015-16 also include a vast network of roads.
According to the Programme, Western Alignment (CPEC) include Gwadar-Turbat-Hoshab Section (200km) of Gwadar-Ratodero Road (892km) M-8 including Khuzdar-Shahdadkot-Ratodero (143km)-(Gwadar-Turbat, Khuzdar in Balochistan and Kamber, Shehdadkot and Larkana in Sindh). Rs2,800 million have been allocated for this project. Similarly, Rs2500 million have been allocated for widening and improvement of N-85, Hoshab-Nag-Basima-Surab Road (459km) (Khuzdar,Paniqur); Rs3,000 million for Zhob Mughal Kot 81km N-50; Rs2,000 million for rehabilitation of DI Khan Mughal Kot 50km section N-50 and Rs10,000 million for land acquisition/construction of Western Alignment and other CPEC projects.
As far as Northern Alignment of CPEC is concerned, Rs2,300 million have been allocated for construction of Burhan-Havelian Expressway (59km); Rs20,500 million for Thakot to Havelian (120km) (Construction) (phase-I) and Rs5000 million for Thakot to Havelian (120km) (Land) (Phase-I).
Similarly, Rs10,000 million have been allocated for the construction of Islamabad-Mianwali-DI Khan CPEC route including land acquisition and technical study.