ISLAMABAD: About 95 percent of the reconstruction and rehabilitation work on the strategic Sibbi-Harnai railway track, which was badly damaged in 2006, has been completed by the National Logistics Cell (NLC) with the tremendous effort. The railway track was made dysfunctional after a series of bomb blasts damaged as many as 22 steel bridges in the highly rugged and inaccessible area. Likewise, 10 railways stations were rendered dysfunctional for over lack of proper maintenance over a long period of time. In March 2016, a contract of rehabilitation and restoration of Sibi-Harnai railway track along with up-gradation of railway stations was awarded to the National Logistics Cell (NLC) as no other construction firm agreed to undertake the project due to prevalent security situation and enormity of the task. During initial survey of the track, it was found that 22 steel bridges of different sizes were completely destroyed and required replacement. In addition, a massive river protection work was to be undertaken to save the infrastructure. The quantum of work, non-availability of road access and requisite resources made the project ‘a formidable challenge’. Undertaking the project with the sincerity of purpose and utmost sense of duty, NLC officers, engineers and construction workers faced harsh weather conditions and a hostile security environment, and subsequently completed 95% of the rehabilitation works in record time. The major task was the fabrication of steel bridges. The steel bridges were fabricated in Karachi and were transported all the way to the project site after painstakingly assembled by NLC engineers in a befitting manner. A total of nine railway stations along with tracks have been upgraded by NLC engineers including reconstruction of Harnai Railway Station and a complete renovation of Sibbi Railways Station, which can be regarded as the finest railway station in Balochistan. The rehabilitation of 134 kilometers of important railways tracks will restore vital communication links across the country. This will reinvigorate economy and socio-economic activities in the entire region. The NLC is actively contributing to the development of Balochistan and has constructed Sibbi-Kohlu road which has reduced distance between the two districts by about 500 kilometers. Other projects undertaken by the organisation include construction of Kajori-Bawata road, the PPL Hospital, the Cadet College Sui and a number of free water supply schemes and schools under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) domain. Published in Daily Times, September 10th 2018.