Rs122b needed for repair, NA told

ISLAMABAD - Minister for Communication Dr Arbab Alamgir Khan on Friday informed the National Assembly that due to heavy-loaded NATO containers various roads of the country have deteriorated and condition of the roads require reconstruction and rehabilitation at an estimated cost of Rs 122.95 billion.Responding to a supplementary question during question hour, he stated that NATO containers have been using three roads which are N-25, N-55 and Indus Highway and almost 250 to 300 heavy loaded NATO containers travel on these roads. He said that according to an estimate annually Rs 12 billion are required for rehabilitation/ reconstruction of these roads. He stated that the issue has already been highlighted at various forums with the proposal to claim these damages from the NATO forces.  He told that NHA network connects Pakistan to Afghanistan via three routes having total length of 4046km. Annual condition survey 2011 revealed that various sections comprising of about 26 per cent of three routes was in dilipadated condition at present, he said.To another question, he said that the flood-2010 affected various sections of total 19 roads (13 National Highways, 4 Motorways and 2 Strategic Roads).He said that govt repaired these roads and bridges on emergency basis with the expense of Rs one and a half billion.He further said that according to NHA and World Bank, Rs 22 billion are estimated for the repair and reconstruction of these roads.  He said that the construction work on these roads would be started in the middle of next month. To a supplementary question regarding any loans taken by his Ministry, Dr Arbab Alamgir said that they had not taken any loan from national financial institutions ,however, a loan of Rs 700 million have been taken from OGRA to construct a bridge that would be returned.To another supplementary question regarding roads linking Gawadar port, the Minister said that the works on some roads have been stopped due to law and order situation beside the work on some roads could not be started due to shortage of funds.To a question, Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani informed the House that a security delegation of Bangladesh would visit Pakistan in the first week of March to review the security arrangements for upcoming Pak-Bangladesh cricket series.  He told that Interior Ministry would brief them on the security plan that would be provided to Bangladesh team. He said that Bangladesh cricket team is expected to come to Pakistan in coming April.

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