ISLAMABAD: The World Bank announced today [Nov 27] a 35-million-dollar loan which will assist in further improving roads in West Pakistan, it was officially stated here. The project includes construction of two important highways, studies for future construction, a three-year maintenance programme, and consultant’s services for the reorganisation and training of staff of the Highway Department of West Pakistan.

The Government is giving considerable importance to improving the road network in West Pakistan to meet the growing needs of agriculture and industry. This is the third occasion on which the World Bank group has provided credits for this purpose.

The construction project includes two highways with a total length of 170 miles, which will pass through the best agricultural areas and also where industrial units are heavily concentrated. Both of the roads branch out from Lahore... The roads will provide shorter routes and will result in lower transport costs for motorised traffic to which their use will be confined....

The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 1971 at a total cost of dollar 75 million. The World Bank loan will cover the foreign exchange needs and the Government of West Pakistan will finance most of the local currency costs.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2018