September 27, 2006	Wednesday	Ramazan 3, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 26: The National High Authority on Tuesday signed a concession agreement for the Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway, M-9, with the Standard Construction firm.

The scope of works includes expansion of the road from four to six lanes and provision of service areas. The project will cost Rs6.3 billion and be completed in two years.

NHA Chairman Maj-Gen Furrukh Javed, said at the signing ceremony that the four-lane Super Highway between Karachi and Hyderabad was being upgraded to a six-lane motorway.

With the construction of Gwadar Port, traffic on the Super Highway would increase manifold, he said.

He said the 136km-long motorway was the first genuine road project undertaken by the NHA on build, operate and transfer basis.

He said the government would earn Rs9 billion in 25 years as taxes from the project. He said the road would form part of a wider network connecting the principal and populous cities of the country.

Maj-Gen Javed said the NHA was promoting provincial harmony by providing comfortable and economical road infrastructure to people. He assured the contractor firm of the NHA’s cooperation.