KARACHI, Nov 3: Sindh Government, in collaboration with Asian Development Bank (ADB), plans to construct a 1,200-km-long road in the province.

This was stated by the Secretary of Works and Services, Ashfaque Ahmed Memon, during a briefing to Chief Minister Ali Mohammad Mahar here at the CM House on Monday.

Mr Memon said that the ADB under its country programme in Pakistan was interested in developing a strong network of roads in the province and building link-roads to connect villages, consolidating provincial highway network as well as improving administrative capability of the Sindh Works and Communication Department.

He said that the provincial government had earlier signed an agreement in Manila with the ADB to construct the 1,200-km road and that a feasibility for the 700-km section of the road had already been prepared.

Mr Mahar, on the occasion, ordered setting up of district committees to identify the sites for the project. He also directed that recommendations of the concerned Senators, MNAs, MPAs and district Nazims be taken before finalizing the road schemes.

He also directed that the proposals be finalized at the earliest by convening meetings at district level and participation by elected representatives of the concerned districts be ensured.

He made it clear that no road scheme providing facilities for house, garden or land of any landlord be proposed as roads could not be constructed for any particular house or land. He said that 10 road schemes for every district be prepared.

Condition of slum areas of Karachi is also very bad and it is necessary to do justice with the people of these areas by constructing new roads and providing other facilities, the CM pointed out.

He ordered that a new road scheme to link Sukkur, Khairpur and Sanghar be prepared and included in the same in Annual Development Programme. A big share of population would be able to avail communication facilities with the completion of the project, he added.

The secretary apprised him of reconstruction and extension work of 30.7-km road in Thatta and Sujawal and 133.87-km road in Nawabshah, as well as the projects of Kot Lalu and Ranipur Road projects that are to be undertaken.

Construction of roads between Qambar and Drug (18.252 km), Jamrato Head Road to Fazal Leghari Goth (11.854 km) and between Tangwani Town and Bughti Colony (District Jacobabad) (25.53 km) would also be undertaken, he said.

The CM was informed that with the assistance of US$236 million from the ADB, OPEC and Sindh government, construction of roads in the province would be carried out. For the purpose, he added, ECNEC had approved PC-I on April 23 this year and soon after final approval, work would be initiated on the schemes.—APP/PPI