GILGIT: The long-delayed reconstruction and widening of the 170-kilometre strategically important Gilgit-Skardu Road has finally been started.

The Rs33-billion project has been awarded to Frontier Works Organisation (FWO).

A convoy of trucks, carrying heavy machinery and other equipment has arrived in Skardu.

Official sources said formal work on the project had been started.

According to official documents available with Dawn the federal finance ministry has also released Rs8.6 million initially for the project.

The only route for the residents of Baltistan division to access other parts of the country has been in bad condition for years.

Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had announced to initiate the project during his visits to the region.

Successive governments have promised to rebuild the road, but when in power, they ignored the promises made with the voters.

The initiation of work on the artery has been hailed not only by the people but also the GB chief minister and members of the ruling PML-N.

Chief Minister Hafeezur Rehman said his government had fulfilled yet another promise by starting work on the Gilgit-Skardu Road to provide better communication facilities to people of the region.

He said a battalion of army’s engineering corps had reached Gilgit to initiate construction work on the road, according to a statement.

Talking to Dawn, Senior Minister Akbar Taban, who also hails from Skardu, said people of Baltistan had been suffering due to bad condition of this all-important road.

“Our political opponents were blaming us for cheating people on this project, but now we are happy that work on the project has finally started,” he said.

The senior minister admitted that the GB government was under pressure for not starting work on the important mega project despite commitments.

Mr Taban said after completion of the road tourism and communication facilities would improve, providing job opportunities to the locals.

Meanwhile, the government has also decided to award contract of the Gilgit-Naltar Expressway project soon.

Official sources said the project would be completed under the public sector development programme at a cost of Rs3 billion in four years.

The project will also promote tourism and generate economic activity.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2017