ISLAMABAD, June 2: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has offered $200 million for the construction of Kalat-Quetta and Quetta-Chaman roads linking Balochistan province with Central Asian Republics (CARs) and Afghanistan besides major economic centres of the country.

The offer was made at a meeting between a four-member delegation of the ADB, led by Senior Product Specialist Hans Carlson, and Ministry of Communications Secretary Iftikhar Rashid here on Monday.

The ADB, in consultation with the National Highway Authority (NHA) and the Balochistan government, has agreed to allocate an amount of $50 million for the NHA during this year and promised $150 million in its next year’s lending programme.

Giving the details to the delegation, the secretary communications said the feasibility study and design of these sections which are Kalat-Quetta (130km), Quetta-Chaman (117km), have been completed.

Pakistan’s geo-strategic location makes it the most attractive country for transit traffic to the landlocked Central Asian Republics.

Gwadar port, due for commissioning in the year 2005, is of immense importance not only for trade with CARs but also for the development of Pakistan.

Thus, Gwadar has the potential to become a hub of major economic and commercial activities in the region in the very near future.

To make full use of the Gwadar port, roads and warehousing facilities are required to be established at Taftan, Chaman and Torkham borders. Turkey and Iran are ahead in the international road transport sector whereas Pakistan is making the beginning in this field.

The ADB, under the Regional Technical Assistance, may sponsor visit of a team of officials of the ministry of communications and the NHA to Iran and Turkey to see facilities there to support trade through road transport.

The terminal at Isfahan, which is of international standard, could be a good model for establishing terminals at Taftan, Chaman and Torkham in Pakistan.

The road linkages from Gwadar to Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics via Chaman and Torkham are being undertaken by the NHA.—APP