Communication projects worth billions going on in KP, Senate told

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar Friday told the Senate that Khyber Pass Economic Corridor (KPEC) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa aimed at serving as an international trade route project would cost approximately $460 million, and the agreement with the World Bank and bidding process project would be started soon. In a reply to supplementary questions of Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, Tarar said that the KPEC project consists of Peshawar-Torkham Expressway, Southern Link road, economic development of adjacent Khyber area, Yarik Interchange, and improvement and widening of N-45.

The law minister also mentioned that a dual carriageway was currently under construction to connect Kohat to Jand Road with M-14, linking Islamabad and Dera Ismail Khan costing Rs18.7 billion. The project is expected to be completed by the end of June. He provided updates on the ongoing construction of the old Bannu Road, slated for completion by September at a cost exceeding Rs17 billion. He further informed the House about the challenges encountered in the Peshawar Northern Bypass project, with a budget of Rs27 billion, primarily related to land acquisition but said despite challenges, the project is anticipated to be completed by December. He also highlighted the completion of the Chakdara-Fatehpur section at a cost of Rs7 billion and mentioned that the Pezu to Tank Road was scheduled for completion by June 2024. He mentioned the construction of the Chakdara-Chitral, N-95 road in three phases with the assistance of the Korean Exim Bank and the financial arrangements for the first phase of the 130-kilometer project have already been secured. He addressed the transportation difficulties faced by local residents during winter and announced that the Malakand Tunnel project, costing $23 million, is set to be completed to alleviate these challenges. He informed the Senate that the 128-kilometer Sarai Gambila-Kohat Road in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be completed by the end of June, at a cost of Rs30 billion. He told the Senate that the Muzaffarabad to Mansehra motorway would be constructed with the support of Saudi funds.