CPEC meeting discusses construction of motorways

ISLAMABAD: The 8th meeting of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Joint Working Group on Transport Infrastructure was held via video link at Ministry of Communications here Monday.

Besides Federal Secretary Communications Zafar Hassan, Vice Minister of China on Transport DAI Dongchang, Deputy Director General for International Cooperation China Shan Hongjun and Chairman National Highway Authority Capt. (R) Sikander Qayyum also participated. The representatives of Foreign Office, CPEC Authority, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan governments and Civil Aviation Authority were also present.

After deliberations, the meeting adopted construction of motorway from Peshawar to DI Khan (320km), Swat Expressway from Chakdara to Fatehpur Phase-II (182km) and Dir Expressway (30km). Pakistani side gave briefing on ML-1 project, Karachi Circular Railway, Peshawar Circular Railway and Quetta Mass Transit Project. Chitral-Shandoor-Gilgit, Nokundi-Mashkhel-Panjgur and Mirpur-Muzaffarabad-Mansehra projects were also brought under discussion.

Secretary Communications Zafar Hassan said, CPEC is the vision of leadership of both the neighbouring countries. He proposed inclusion of Chitral to Chakdara Highway (N-45), connecting Swat Motorway (Chakdara to Col. Sher Khan Interchange on Motorway M-1), as part of CPEC Western route. He said, government of Pakistan was planning for remaining sections of Gwadar-Ratodero Motorway M-8. He desired study of those parts of Karakoram Highway, which are affected by the landslides, so that remedial measures could be devised to ensure smooth flow of traffic. Terming meeting meaningful, he hoped that the meeting will remain successful and achieve its objectives.