RAHIM YAR KHAN: The Sukkur-Multan motorway (M-5) will be opened for traffic on Oct 1 and Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to inaugurate it, Dawn has learnt.

It is being handed over to the National Highways Authority (NHA) after its completion and recruitment of the police, construction of service areas and technical facilities for motorists by the NHA is in final stage. The motorway will reduce the travel between Sukkur and Multan from three to six hours.

The M-5 has been completed within the stipulated time, Project Manager Ge Lingbo told Dawn on Thursday.

“The 392km road has been constructed by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) within three years and it is first China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project which has been completed.”

Mr Lingbo claimed that the standard of M-5 was of the highest level when compared to motorways across Asia. He said there were 100 bridges, 428 underpasses or subways, 12 interchanges, six service areas, five rest areas and 22 toll stations on the road.

“The interchanges are at Sher Shah, Shujaabad, Jalalpur Pirwala, Khairpur Daha, Uch Sharif, Taranda Muhammad Pannah, Zahirpir, Rahim Yar Khan, Murid Shakh, Ghotki, Pannu Aqil and Sukkur. The service areas are at Shujaabad, Uch Sharif, Fatehpur Kamal, Jamaldin Wali, Ghotki and Pannu Aqil.”

Mr Lingbo further said the six-lane M-5 had seven sections, of 54km to 57km length and the CSCEC planted 400,000 trees along the M-5 on a service road to control pollution.

The deputy project managers of M-5 section, Mr Liyu and Mr Chen Jun, claimed that M-5 would protect the south western areas of the Indus from flood.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2019