The Executive Board of the National Highway Authority gave its formal approval for award of work for Yakmach – Kharan road project during a meeting at NHA head office today with Chairman Shahid Ashraf Tarar in the chair. The 50 km long section consists of two lanes with an estimated cost of Rs. 2.42 billion. It will pass through the districts of Kharan, Washuk and Chagai.

Chairman NHA said that development of Baluchistan was government’s top priority and expressed hope that like NHA’s other projects in the province of Baluchistan, the project of Yakmach – Kharan would also be completed in time. He informed the meeting that nine Emergency Response Centers (ERC) would be set up in various parts of Balochistan including Danasar, Mina Bazar, Kalat, Sorab, Wud, Kararo, Nag, Wangu and Hoshab. He said that feasibility and design work of these RECs had been completed and they will become operation from the next financial year. The centers would operate 24/7 and manned by trained doctors and other para medical staff equipped with necessary first aid facilities along with ambulances and cranes for rescue and relief operations. The primary objective, he said, was to make traveling along national highways in remote parts of Balochistan more safe and to ensure timely assistance to the injured in case of an accident.

The Chairman also informed the meeting that construction work on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was in full swing and several important projects including Hazara Motorway (E-35), Gojra-Shorkot Motorway, Khuzdar – Rethodero, Lowari Tunnel and Lyari Expressway projects will be completed this year. He said timely completion of Islamabad Metro Project was a big challenge and NHA was taking every step to ensure its scheduled completion. Similarly, the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway (M-6) that is currently in procurement stage, will also start very soon.