KARACHI, Dec 21: Vice-Chief of Army Staff General Muhammad Yousuf Khan, on Saturday said that beside undertaking the foremost responsibility of guarding the frontiers of the motherland, the Pakistan Army, whenever called up, had always responded and stood side by side with the entire nation in all rehabilitation and development projects.

“May it be the Karakoram Highway, the improvement of communication infrastructures in the rugged mountains of Balochistan, or any natural calamity, the Army has always tried to live up to the expectations of the nation,” he said addressing the officers and men of the Frontier Works Organization after inspecting the constructed portions of the Makran Coastal Highway.

Appreciating the efforts of the Frontier Works Organization he said: “The construction of the Makran Coastal Highway is a challenging task which calls for unflinching devotion and dedicated professional approach. I have no doubt that, true to its traditional professionalism, the Frontier Works Organization will yet again come up to the expectations of the nation as well as of the Army in completing the assigned task successfully”. He further added the improvement of communication infrastructure had been a priority agenda of President General Pervez Musharraf’s government.

General Yousuf also inspected various patches of the road. He flew over the Lyari-Ormara section of the road and had an aerial view of the Makran Coastal Highway. Corps Commanders Lieut-Gen Abdul Qadir and Lieut-Gen Tariq Waseem Ghazi, Engineer in Chief Lieut General Muhammad Zubair and Major General Shahid Niaz, Director General Frontier Works Organization also accompanied Vice-Chief of Army Staff during his visit.

It may be mentioned here that the Makran Coastal Highway will serve as the main lateral artery for on-shore support to the fishing ports of Ormara, Pasni and Gwader. The Rs4 billions project will create the foundation for establishment of an integrated communication network in Balochistan.

The total length of the Makran Coastal Highway is 633 kilometres. It is being constructed under a phased programme.— APP/PPI