ISLAMABAD: National Highway Authority (NHA) is rapidly expanding the road network to meet the growing demand of transportation in the country
According to an official of NHA, Pakistan’s present government under the leadership of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is paying special attention to the integrated road networks around the country which will eventually play a pivotal role in various projects being operated under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
He further said that a number of sections of CPEC are complete and remaining sections are under construction. The entire project comprises of modern highways and railway transportation system; linking Kashgar in West China, to Khunjerab in the north and onwards to Karachi and Gawadar in the south of Pakistan through multiple routes.
He said that the 784 km segment from Khunjerab to Burhan consists of Karakoram Highway (KKH), out of which 335 km from Khunjerab to Raikot has been upgraded. Remaining section from Raikot to Islamabad is divided into three sub-sections i.e. Raikot-Thakot, Thakot-Havelian and Havelian-Islamabad.
He further gave the details of various ongoing construction projects around the country and said that the work on 120 km Thakot-Havelian section of Hazara Motorway has started after its ground breaking by the Prime Minister. The Burhan-Havelian of Hazara Motorway is going smoothly and it will be completed by end 2017, at cost of Rs 34 billion.
He concluded that projects like CPEC eventually assist in economic and social revival as they help boost employment and reduce production costs for businesses.
