The Executive Board of the National Highway Authority has approved the project for widening and up-gradation of Jaglot-Skardu strategic road during a meeting held at NHA head office today with Chairman Shahid Ashraf Tarar in the chair. The meeting was informed that 164 km road will be completed at a cost of Rs. 31 billion in three years time. The existing route that is not in a good condition will be improved and widened along with smoothening of the sharp curves which will not only make travelling safer but also reduce the travel time to a considerable extent.

The Executive Board also gave its nod for the two packages of Islamabad Metro Bus track. The first package from Peshawar Mor to G-13 is 8 km long and will cost Rs. 6.5 billion whereas the second package form G-13 up to N-5 Interchange is 3.8 km and will cost Rs. 5.5 billion. Chairman NHA informed the meeting that all available resources were utilized to ensure the quality and in time completion of the project.

PC-1 for a 4-lane bridge over river Indus connecting Dera Ismail Khan and Klorkot was also approved. The project includes construction of 1.2 km long bridge along with access roads on both sides and will cost Rs. 7 billion.

The meeting was informed that a wide network of motorways and highways was being constructed under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Out of 13 motorways planned, 4 motorways including Peshawar – Islamabad (M-1), Islamabad -Lahore (M-2), Pindi Bhattian -Faisalabad, and Faisalabad- Gojra (M-4) were already operations while the rest would be completed during the next 2-3 years, taking the overall length of motorway network to over 2000 km. This includes Thakot – Havelian (120 km), Havelian – Hassanabdal motorway (53 km), Hakla – D.I.Khan Expressway (280 km), Lahore – AbdulHakeem motorway (230 km), Multan – Sukkur motorway (393 km) and Gojra – Shorkot motorway (62 km).