Commencing work on M-8 top priority, says Gen Asim Bajwa

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting and CPEC Authority Chairman Lt-Gen (retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa on Sunday said work on M-8 motorway would be commenced as top priority of the government.

In his tweet, “the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority chairman said the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) had already accorded approval to the 146 kilometres Hoshab-Awaran portion of the M-8 at a cost of Rs26 billion. “The M-8 motorway will connect Sukkur-Larkana to Gwadar which is currently under-construction, while the 193 kilometre portion between Gwadar and Hoshab was inaugurated in February 2016". It will start from Ratodero in Sindh Province and enter Balochistan Province passing through Khuzdar, Awaran, Hoshab, and Turbat before joining Makran Coastal highway just East of the port city of Gwadar.

The M-8 will also cross the Dasht River and pass near the Mirani Dam in Balochistan Province. It will have 4-lanes and a total length of 892 km. Initially, 2-lanes will be constructed after the completion of which another 2-lanes will be added. Bajwa said this road in remote districts of Kech and Awaran was a beacon of light for impoverished South Balochistan, and will change lives of people of the area.