PESHAWAR, May 22: A state-of-the-art border complex will be constructed at Torkham to improve facilities and control the movement of people and goods. The project would cost Rs913.479 million with a foreign exchange component of Rs270 million, NWFP Governor Khalilur Rehman was informed during a presentation here.

The Chief Engineer, Works and Services, Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Amir Shahbaz, said the complex covering 626 kanals would comprise custom and immigration offices, two-way custom and immigration terminals and checking and scanning plazas for pedestrians and passenger and cargo vehicles with other infrastructure.

He said the project would create long-term job opportunities for local people and help in socio-economic development of the area.

The project’s consultant Tariq Hayat said two proposals regarding the construction plan were under consideration.

The officials said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had entrusted the project to the National Logistic Cell and the Islamic investment Bank had shown interest in it.

The governor said the complex would be the first of its kind in the country, which would make border crossing systematic and augment the trade volume on the route.

He said the problems and issues in the implementation of the project had to be resolved at the initial stage and suggested a step-by-step approach in this regard.

Earlier, NLC Director-General Maj-Gen Khalid Zaheer Akhtar called on the governor and expressed the desire that the compensation of land acquired for the project should be scaled down.—app