ISLAMABAD, March 20: The government is building a network of roads at a cost of Rs35 billion to provide better links with Gwadar port which already has access up to Chamman through a combination of Coastal Highway (N-10) and ECO Highway (N-25).

This was stated by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz while presiding over a meeting at the Prime Minister‘s House on Monday to review the status of roads connectivity to Gwadar. He said that the completion of road networks and other mega projects will usher a new era of development and prosperity in Balochistan and the government is taking steps to complete the projects on fast track basis.

Mr Aziz directed the ministry of communications and the National Highway Authority to upgrade the existing road from Gwadar-Hoshab-Panjgur-Nag-Basima and Sorab. The prime minister also directed them to immediately undertake construction of road up to Panjgur and beyond subsequently so that two routes are available between Gwadar and the Central Asian Republics.

NHA Chairman Maj Gen Farrukh Javed made a presentation about the status of various projects.

He said the NHA was working on eight projects to provide network of accesses to Gwadar and from Gwadar to various local and foreign locations. Lyari-Gwadar road has been completed and Gwadar- Jiwani-Gabad road will be completed in 2009 which will provide access to Iran.

He said 57 per cent work on Gwadar-Turbat-Hoshab project has been completed, the remaining work will be completed by March 2007. Basima-Khuzdar road will be completed by 2009 while 60 per cent work on Khori-Wangu hill project has been completed and the remaining portion of the road from Qubo-Saeed Khan to Wangu hills has been awarded to FWO which will be completed in 36 months.

Gen Farrukh informed the prime minister that Kalat- Quetta Chamman road has already been awarded to four contractors under the financial package of the ADB and will be completed in three years.