The Lasbela Chamber of Commerce in a Press Release issued here today stated that Mr. Sham Sundar, General Manger National Highway Authority Balochistan South has informed during a meeting with President LCCI Mr. Ismail Suttar that the Chairman NHA has ordered to work on the proposal of a new bridge on Hub River on N-25 highway connecting Sindh and Balochistan.

Sham Sunder further informed that NHA is continuously monitoring the condition of the existing bridge. The bridge is still safe for use by the traffic, although has completed its designed life. This bridge was built in 1962.

Ismail Suttar, President, LCCI has appraised him of concerns of the industrial community of Lasbela district who are using this bridge on daily basis. After recent flood condition due to heavy rains and spill from Hub dam, the outer additional support of the bridge piles have exposed and the news on media has created a genuine panic in the users of this bridge.

Ismail has further elaborated the importance of this Bridge, which connects the port city Karachi with the largest province of the country up to the border of Iran. Hub Industrial area being the largest organized industrial cluster in the province Balochistan is generating around 75% of the total revenue for the province. Any obstacles or hindrance in reaching the workplaces and logistics to and from the factories would cause heavy losses to the production resulting in heavy loss to the revenue generated by these factories through their business activity besides rendering thousands of worker unemployed.

While responding to the concerns of President LCCI, Sham Sundar informed that NHA is working on the repair of the piles of the bridge and has invited the proposals from the approved contractors to start the repair work within a few days

Ismail Suttar, President LCCI, mentioned that the excavation close to the bridge from the river in dangerous for the bridge structure. This should strictly be prohibited. As per law, no excavation can be carried out within 500 meters on either side of the bridge. Law and order enforcement agencies must take strict notice of any violations of this law to protect the bridge and keep it safe for the commuters.