Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Ahsan Iqbal, said, on Sunday that the federal government has already allocated significant funds to complete the Western route for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor under the banner of its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2016-17. Up to Rs. 22 billion have been allocated for Burhan-Hakla (Dera Ismael Khan Motorway), which is a part of the CPEC’s Western route, he said in a statement issued here.  The 285-kilometer motorway project is being built to connect Dera Ismail Khan to Hakla area, and will be completed in two years at a cost of over Rs 129 billion. The motorway will pass through Pindi Gheb, Sawan, Mianwali, Rokhri, Rehmani Khel and will terminate at Yarik (DI Khan). An additional Rs. 5 billion have also been allocated for the Gwadar-Turbat-Hoshab section, Rs. 4 billion for Hoshab-Nag-Basima-Surba section, and Rs 1.1 billion for D.I.Khan-Mughalkot section of Western route of the CPEC. In addition, Rs. 4.6 billion have also been allocated for the construction of the Burhan-Havelian Expressway, while Rs. 16.5 billion for Thakot-Haveliay road, among other projects.  In his response to a question,  Iqbal said that some elements were busy creating confusion about the Western route. He strongly dispelled this impression and remarked that the work on the Western route is in full swing, further adding that the Gwadar-Surab Section will be completed by December 2016 while  the D.I.Khan section will be completed by July 2018. He said that there is a complete consensus among all the political parties on the Western route and the government will fulfil its promise in this regard. The Minister said that the government is determined to complete the Western portion of the project on a priority basis by providing all the required funds for it.