QUETTA: The Balochistan government on Friday approved construction and repair of different roads of the city under Rs25 billion Quetta Development Package (QDP) and directed the project director to ensure completion of the projects under the package within stipulated period.

The approval came at a meeting presided over by Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani and attended by Minister for Information and Higher Education Mir Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, Chief Secretary Dr Akhtar Nazeer, Additional Chief Secretary of Planning and Development Sajjad Ahmed Bhutta, Finance Secretary Abdul Haq Baloch and others.

According to official sources, the meeting was told that with the completion of the projects under the QDP beauty of the city would enhance and traffic pressure would reduce.

The Quetta Development Package is partly funded through a federal grant while a major part of funding is being provided by the provincial government.

Commissioner of Quetta division Usman Ali, who is project director of the QDP, told the meeting that ongoing projects included widening and construction of Joint Road and Sabzal Road at a cost of Rs5bn and Rs4.814bn, respectively.

He said Rs13.9bon would be spent on construction of a 2-km flyover over Sariab Road and construction of different roads to link the eastern and western bypasses.

He said Badani Road would be turned into a dual carriageway at a cost Rs400 million and Rs500m would be spent on the construction of an alternative road leading to Quetta airport.

The chief minister underlined the significance of the Quetta Development Package for improving the city infrastructure and provision of facilities to the people.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2019