Daily Times

Minister for Railways, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad and Ambassador of China to Pakistan, Nong Rong in a meeting held here Monday agreed to intensify efforts for early completion of Karachi-Peshawar Main Line-1 project of Railways.

“The ML-1 project would bring revolution in the railway sector of Pakistan through creating new employment and business opportunities for the people”, Sheikh Rashid said during the meeting.

The federal minister thanked the ambassador for Chinese partnership for the ML-1 project saying, “This would further strengthen the Pak-China relations”.

He said Pakistan and China had been enjoying everlasting friendship which was based on mutual trust and confidence.

The meeting discussed matters of mutual interest, Pakistan-China relations and rail projects in detail.

Earlier, the Railway Minister welcomed the new Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan on his arrival at the Ministry of Railways and presented a bouquet of flowers to him. Speaking on the occasion, the Chinese ambassador expressed his wish for further improvement in Pakistan-China relations.

He said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project was a manifestation of the long-standing relationship between the two countries.

Separately, the National Highway Authority (NHA) has initiated a project under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2020-2021 and an amount of Rs 10 billion has been allocated for Zhob to Kuchlak Road which forms part of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Western alignment. Estimated cost of the project is Rs 63081 million.

About 106 km two-lane Highway from Basima to Khuzdar, has the estimated cost of Rs 19188.435 million with the allocation of Rs 4400 million in the current fiscal year. For construction of black top road Yakmach-Kharan via Dostain-Wadh-Khurmagai, which has estimated cost of Rs 13758 million, Rs 1500 have been specified in the current PSDP, the document said.

Rs 900 million have been allocated for Qila Saifullah Lora Lai Waigum Rud section of N70, out of which Rs 750 million is foreign aid. For 81 km Zhob- Mughal Kot section of N-500, Rs 900 million have been earmarked out of which Rs 750 million is foreign component.

As far as widening and strengthening of National Highway Rakhi Gajj-Bewata section of N-70 was concerned, Rs 1000 million have been allocated which also included Rs Rs 500 million foreign aid. Estimated cost of the project is Rs 22994.660 million, according to the document. For the construction of Dera Murad Jamali Bypass having estimated cost Rs 2105.954, allocation of Rs 1000 million has been made in the current PSDP.

Rs 4000 million have been earmarked for the construction of Hoshab-Awaran Section of M-8 (146 km), with the estimated cost of Rs 25835.893 million. Construction of Ziarat Mor – Kech – Harnai Road (107.2 km) and Harnai- Sanjavi Road (55.1 km) (Deposit Work) would cost Rs 8379.075 million and in the current fiscal year an allocation of Rs 100 million has been made. Dualization and improvement project of 210 km existing N- 50 from Yarik – Sagu – Zhob including Zhob Bypass has estimated cost of Rs 76486.231, million.

In the present fiscal year Rs 1000 million have been allocated for the project out of which Rs 500 million is foreign aid. For 82 km Jhal Jaho-Bela Section deposit work which has estimated cost of Rs 12343.400 million, Rs 1000 million have been allocated in current fiscal year.

For deposit work of Nokundi- Mashkhel Road, part of China Pakistan Economic Corridor having estimated cost of Rs 7708.911million, Rs 1000 million have been specified this fiscal year. For 23 km Quetta Western Bypass, which has Rs 6890.569 million, Rs 1500 million have been allocated this year.

Rs 500 million have been earmarked for 118 km rehabilitation, upgradation and widening project of Quetta – Dhadhar Section of N-65 which has estimated cost of Rs 7115.760 million. For widening, improvement and rehabilitation of 2m96 km remaining portion of Kararo – Wadh Section of N 70, having estimated cost of Rs 1659.840 million, an allocation of Rs 300 million has been made.