ISLAMABAD - The government of Pakistan has allocated Rs20,300 million for Western alignment of China-Pak Economic Corridor (C-PEC) in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
An official of National highway Authority (NHA) told APP on Wednesday that Rs 2800 million have been allocated for 200 km Gwadar-Turbat-Hoshab section of Gwadar-Rattodero Highway including Khuzdar-Shadadkot-Rattodero section. Rs. 2500 million have been earmarked for widening and improvement of Hoshab-Nag-Basima-Surab Highway. He said that Rs. 3000 million have also been approved for 81 kilomentre Zhob-Mughal Kot section of Kuchlak-Zhob-D.I.Khan Quetta-D.I. Khan Highway. Moreover he said that Rs. 2000 million have been allocated for rehabilitation of D.I. Khan-Mughal Kot section of N-50. Besides Rs 10,000 million have been allocated for land acquisition and construction of western alignment and other C-PEC projects.
To a question, the NHA official said that western alignment of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was the first and foremost priority of the government which would become operational by December 2016. He said that Balochistan province will be the biggest beneficiary of C-PEC while all provinces and regions would benefit from this historic opportunity.
He said that speedy work was currently underway at Gawadar-Surab Highway on the western alignment in Balochistan where 650 kms long missing link of western alignment is under construction presently. The official said that construction of road along the western route is a challenging task due to terrain but Frontiers Works Organization (FWO) was doing a commendable job by carrying out speedy work on the project. He said that C-PEC plan is to improve and upgrade existing highways for fastest connectivity in the first phase.
Replying to a question, he said that western alignment will be dualized if traffic volume grew in future. He said construction of western alignment will bring a positive change in the socio-economic conditions of the far flung areas of country.
He pointed out that Gawadar will be connected to Khunjrab through multiple routes as the port will serve different markets and destinations. He said that the three routes include Gawadar- Quetta-Zhob- DI Khan- Islamabad to Khunjrab route ,Gawadar-Sukkur-Indus Highway to Khunjrab, and Gawadar-Sukkur- Karachi Peshawar Motorway to Khunjrab route.