ISLAMABAD: Work on the projects of western route of Pakistan China Economic Corridor (CPEC) is continuing rapidly and will be completed by December 2016, official sources said.
CPEC will benefit all the provinces especially Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). According to data of the Planning Commission of Pakistan, 335 km long Khunjerab to Raikot road is complete while the feasibility study of 270 km Raikot to Thakot road has concluded. Work is continuing on Burhan-Havelian expressway, 280 km long Burhan-Dera Ismail Khan road, 124 km DI Khan-Mughalkot road, 81 km Zhob-Mughalkot road, 454 km Khushab-Saryab road and 193 km Khushab-Gwadar road.
The federal government has given considerable importance to the project and made substantial allocations for it in this year’s financial budget.
CPEC project includes new power stations and special industrial zones to spur regional trade.
CPEC is part of vision of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to integrate the region and provide a corridor to China for its trade with the outside world through Gwadar port. The project will also revive some of the historical routes between Pakistan and China.
