PM Nawaz Sharif has approved constructing a 3+3 lane motorway between Karachi and Hyderabad. He has also okayed motorway projects linking Pindi Bhattian with Lahore and Hasanabdal with Mansehra to be built on the basis of BOT. Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Planning and Development, (July 20) said Lahore – Karachi motorway would be completed in three years and would serve as a parallel trade corridor.
National Highway Authority has been asked to initiate the project. In the meantime Pakistan and China have formed a task force for constructing the Silk Road connecting Xinjiang and Gwadar. The task force would meet in Islamabad in August. Chairman, National Development and Reform Commission, Xu Shao, would lead the Chinese delegation at the task force meeting. And Ahsan Iqbal, who signed the agreement together with Mr Shao during Nawaz Sharif’s recent visit to China would lead Pakistan side.
The strategic project (est cost $18 b) will requiring many tunnels in Khunjerab Pass area in Gilgit Baltistan. The project needs many surveys, including seismic surveys, to be done by experts from both countries. We have to finalise the project in one year, added Ahsan Iqbal.
