KHAAR, Jan 15: The political administration has directed the contractors and officials concerned to expedite the construction of roads leading tothe new checkpoints along the Afghan border in the Bajaur Agency.

Officials said on Wednesday that the directives had been issued on the instructions of the federal government and the NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah.

Three roads are being constructed in the agency to the Letai Sar, Kagga Pass and Matak checkpoints, where law-enforcement personnel have been deployed to watch movement across the border.

The Letai Sar road project, which would be completed at a cost of Rs40 million, was inaugurated by the governor last year. A 7km portion of the road has been completed.

The projects are expected to be completed in by the mid of the year. Sources said the government sought early completion of the projects to facilitate the law-enforcement agencies' campaigns against terrorism.