ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Communications was Tuesday informed that the work on the first phase of Mardan-Swabi Road would start soon with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The meeting was presided over by committee Chairman Muzammil Qureshi. The committee was told that Khuzdar-Sukkur Road would be inaugurated very soon, which would reduce commuters woes. It was shared that with the completion of M-8 a distance of over 650km could be covered in only six hours. Meanwhile, the committee was told that work on Kuchlak bypass had been started. The committee directed authorities concerned to complete work of Chakdara-Kalam Road on priority basis. The committee was also informed that the work on Karachi Green line project was in progress. “Phase-I of the Green Line would be completed by November and Phase-II by April 2018. The committee stressed the need for continuous coordination with the Sindh government so that people of Karachi could avail benefits of these projects. It was informed that climate change risk was given due importance in the construction of the Green Line project. “A large number of trees have been planted and 18,000 more trees would be planted. Communication Minister Hafiz Abdul Karim, National Highway Authority (NHA) Chairman Shahid Tarar, Additional Secretary (Communication) Tashfeen Khan, State Minister Dr Darshan, MNAs Nazir Ahmed Bughio, Ramesh Lal, Salimur Rehman, Hamidul Haq Khalil, Sanjay Parwani, Tariq Ullah, Naseema Panenzai, Usamn Khan Tarkai, Shah Jehan Mangrio and other high officials were present in the meeting. Published in Daily Times, September 27th 2017.