PESHAWAR: The 30 per cent construction work of 60-kilometer long Hazara Motorway has been completed as the project after completion would help promote business and tourism activities besides generating huge employment opportunities for people of Khyber Pakthunkhwa especially in Hazara Division.
This was stated by Hazara Motorway General Manager Shahid Ehsan while talking to APP on Monday. He said that construction work on this six-lane Hazara Motorway was in full swing and 30 percent construction work from Burhan to Rehana Road Haripur has been completed till date.
The GM said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was taking keen interest in Hazara Motorway project who personally visited the site on several occasions, which reflect his deep commitment and affection for the development of people of Khyber Pakthunkhwa.
“We are working day and night to construct this mega project by December 2016 as directed by the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif,” he said.
This is a joint project of Federal Government and Asian Development Bank (ADB), he said, adding 90 percent share would be provided by ADB whereas Federal Government would inject 10 percent share in this mega project, he added.
The GM said Hazara Motorway is being constructed from Burhan to Havelian at a cost of Rs22.34 billion, adding initial cost of this project was Rs 25.8billion that has been reduced to Rs22.34 billion by saving Rs3.5 billion to the national kitty, he added.
“We have divided this project into three sections to ensure its early completion as instructed by the Prime Minister,” he said, adding under package-I, 20 kilometres is being constructed by China Gezhouba Company and Ghulam Rasul Construction Company whereas Amin Jan Associates and China Gezhouba Company would build 19-kilometer under Package-II of the Motorway.
When asked about the third section, the GM disclosed that Letter of Commencement (LOC) would be issued to Turkish Limak Construction Company and Zahir Khan Brothers by end of this month for construction of its 18 kilometres section.
Five inter changes would be constructed at various points on this project that would be onward linked to China-Pakistan Economic Coordinator Project (CPEC) at Havalian, he added.
Hazara Motorway is a lifeline project for people Hazara Division with enormous potential of providing inexpensive travelling facilities not only to the people of Haripur, Abbottabad, Manshera and other districts but also to Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Burhan, Jarikas, Hattar, Khanpoor, Shah Mansoor, Havalian, Haripur besides others towns and villages of Hazara Division would be linked with this project, he added. Rushad Khan, Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) and leader of PML-N said Hazara Motorway was yet another ‘gift’ of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for people of Khyber Pakthunkhwa and Hazara division.
“This is another huge project for people of KP after Nawaz Sharif Kidney Hospital that had already started function in Swat valley by imparting quality medical services to patients of KP,” he said. “The people knew who are working tireless for development of KP and who are making empty slogans on the name of ‘Change’.”
Rushad Khan said the success of PML-N candidates with overwhelming majority in the recently held local bodies elections in Punjab has reflected the unshakable trust of masses on the policies of Federal and Punjab Governments. He said people of Punjab and Sindh have rejected the politics of negativity, accusations, Dharna and Change. He said LG election in Punjab and Sindh was an eye-opener for all.
The PMLN leader said Hazara Motorway will bring significant changes in lives of people and will expedite progress and prosperity in KP and Hazara division through enhanced development activities, opening of schools, colleges, hospitals and help create job opportunities,” he said.
The construction of Motorway would make Hazara Division a hub for economic and business activities besides bolstering mountaineering and eco-tourism in KP.
