Western route of CPEC to be completed by 2018

E-Paper | April 25, 2026

QUETTA: The western route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which would connect the port city of Gwadar with Quetta via Khuzdar, would be completed by 2018, said National Highway Authority (NHA) Chairman Shahid Ashraf Tarar on Tuesday.

He told Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri that 95 per cent of construction work on Gwadar-Ratodero road had been completed. However, he said, security was needed to complete all road projects (in the province) in time.

The CM assured Mr Tarar that his government would provide security to engineers, technical staff and labourers involved in the execution of CPEC and other road projects.

During their meeting, Mr Zehri and the NHA head discussed ongoing road projects in Balochistan, particularly those related to the economic corridor.

The CPEC is a 3,000-km network of roads, railways and oil and gas pipelines from Gwadar port to Kashgar city in north-western China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Gwadar is the port of origin and starting point for the CPEC.

The meeting reviewed pace of work on ongoing road projects in Balochistan and decided to accelerate it to ensure timely completion of the roads, which would link Gwadar port with rest of the country.

Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2016

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Pakistan

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Sheikh Khalid

Jan 06, 2016 07:10am

Where is the map?

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Shahid

Jan 06, 2016 07:35am

All these statements are misleading and made while pretending that all people are illiterate. First of all compare this statement by NHA chairman with that of Ahsan Iqbal and you will see that one says it will be complete in 2018 while the other (the minister) says the western route will be operative at the end of 2016. Secondly, when they say western route, they mean the road from Gawadar to Surab/Khuzdar and nothing more as they are not gone build anything but use the existing roads with minor upgradation. ironically the road from Gawader to Surab is a common road which has to be commonly used by western and the eastern route. They are building it primarily to get the eastern route operative but they name the western route in their statements. Otherwise why would they name Khuzdar which is not at all on the western route but rather is on the eastern (motorway) corridor.

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Catalyst

Jan 06, 2016 08:15am

Roads does not mean corridor. Provide other facilities and economic projects that are being done in Punjab as well. Balochistan and KPK has very valid reservations with regards to CPEC.

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Akbar

Jan 06, 2016 08:32am

My 2 cents, be forward looking. Make sure any new rail track or upgrade on existing tracks has to be on standard gauge that is adopted on 70% of tracks world wide including North America, Europe and Western Asia and China. Who knows, railway in future can also be used as another alternate to ship freight deep into Europe and Africa! Stay away from outdated and limited so called broad gauge. Luckily the current condition of tracks of Pak Railway is such that any change of gauge will not be felt with any regret.

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Hope

Jan 06, 2016 08:36am

Ridiculous comments by some instigators from across the border! The roads are being built as plan CNC includes roads and much more, Chinese means business. Good for Pakistani people of Balochistan. Gawadar is transforming into a modern city and that means trade, which means jobs resulting in booming economy, wait and see.

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NHA

Jan 06, 2016 08:40am

CPEC is a long haul. A composite of projects, roads, rail and fiber links. Let us calm down. No one is stealing any thing. It will cover all economic regions and geographical areas. Think How you can contribute - both by taking project -even a small one , or suggesting an improvement. Pak and all of us are lucky to have received such a injection of capital , technology, and also boost in capacity.

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Awais Ali

Jan 06, 2016 09:49am

God knows what is truth.

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Amir malik

Jan 06, 2016 10:27am

They are actually making fool of us.

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Amir malik

Jan 06, 2016 10:32am

@NHA We can't be optimistic while taking CPEC into consideration.

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Khanra

Jan 06, 2016 12:50pm

@Catalyst I dont understand how people keep saying Balochistan will get nothing. Firstly, road infrastructure is greatly needed for the economy to grow; without roads, no growth. Secondly, electric supply will be improved too especially in Gwadar; again, no electricity, no growth. Thirdly, you're complaining that Balochistan is not getting the same sort of facilities as Punjab, but are you aware the the government has set aside a massive 2000 acre piece of land in Gwadar to be developed as a Special Economic Zone that will be modeled after similar zones in China? Are you also aware that the Pak govt is setting up a vocational institute in Gwadar to train locals to operate machinery at the port? Are you also aware that a desalinization plant and new airport are also to be made in Gwadar? Or that 580km of road have already been constructed in the province? Hub industrial estate will also be improved with new power projects. Balochistan is NOT being neglected in this.

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Hamid shafiq

Jan 06, 2016 12:57pm

@Akbar i agree with you first of all our ministers and advisors to the Govt all are non technical people the second thing they do not travel in those areas which they discuss on daily basis. these political people if travel on railway network then they think about what the condition of railway track and existing road condition in Baluchistan. the track which present from Bostan to Zhob already abandoned many track theft and nothing present over there. this track is not broad gauge which lay by British ruler from Bostan to Zhob. if you installed new track it should be broad gauge because your all rolling stock and every thing design on broad gauge i know whole of world convert from broad to standard but its our planner mistake who did not change the railway standard similar happen in India. but question anybody knows the area condition how much you make tunnels and level the land? its not a joke no body knows what happen on that CPEC corridor every day politics nothing else.

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Ayaz khan

Jan 06, 2016 01:35pm

by western route our governments means only a for lane roads where some hotels for truck drivers will be constructed. all development work is being carried on long eastern route. another nail in the coffin of so called one nation.

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Salim

Jan 06, 2016 04:42pm

KPK using 18% of development budget till now with half year gone. KPK also not used last year budget. Ask your leaders to deliver with the development budgets they have before complaining about other provinces

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Iqbal Khan

Jan 06, 2016 04:59pm

@Shahid I completely agree with you. The central government plays diplomacy with its own people. There is a difference between shrewdness and cunningness, and probably the Punjab dominant federal govt opted for the latter.

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Salim

Jan 06, 2016 06:26pm

Not sure how we blame Punjab for utter incompetence and non delivery of other provinces. Japan refused to fund Karachi Circular train because of incompetence, non delivery and non serious attitude of Sindh govt. Shahbaz Sharif on the other hand during PPP govt in centre was making all out efforts to get investments in Punjab. After 18th amendment provinces can do much better. PTI used to accuse SS for not delivering Power during PPP govt. but have they themselves delivered anything: not even spending their Development Budgets year after year. Lets ask our Provincial Govts to start delivering and stop accusing others now

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Saeed Masood

Jan 06, 2016 07:45pm

Why are we so touchy on this matter of CPEC...and a disbeliever...each and every Pakistani is trying to prove that CPEC is a fake...are we all very honest with our personal lives and fulfilling 100 %...??? do we believe in anything in this world..???

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