ISLAMABAD: The federal government has allocated around Rs 49.5 billion of funds under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the year 2016-17 for completion of Western route of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Up to Rs 22 billion have been allocated for Burhan-Hakla (Dera Ismael Khan Motorway) which is a part of the CPEC’s Western route, according to official sources in the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform here on Sunday. The 285-kilometer motorway project to connect Dera Ismail Khan to Hakla area, will be completed in two years at a cost of over Rs 129 billion.
The motorway will pass through Pindi Gheb, Sawan, Mianwali, Rokhri, Rehmani Khel and will terminate at Yarik (DI Khan). Rs 5 billion have been allocated for Gwadar-Turbat-Hoshab section, Rs 4 billion for Hoshab-Nag-Basima-Surba section, Rs 1.1 billion for D.I.Khan-Mughalkot section of Western route of the CPEC.
Rs 4.6 billion have been allocated for construction of Burhan-Havelian Expressway, Rs 16.5 billion for Thakot-Havelian etc.
Talking to APP, Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal said that some elements were creating confusion about the Western route. He strongly dispelled this impression and said, work on the Western route is in full swing and added, Gwadar-Surab Section will be completed by December 2016 while D.I.Khan section will be completed by July 2018. He said, there is complete consensus among the political parties on the Western route and he government will fulfil its promise in this regard.
The Minister said the government is determined to complete the Western on priority basis by providing all the required funds for it.
