RAWALPINDI: The divisional administration on Tuesday approved the construction of five roads connecting Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) with Punjab at a cost of Rs3.6 billion.

The Azad Kashmir government had requested the Punjab government to construct the roads falling in the province. In response, the provincial government asked the divisional commissioner to start work on the projects immediately.

Commissioner Saqib Zafar called a meeting of the divisional development party on Tuesday to approve the strategic roads and asked the building department to speed up the work to launch the projects.

Director Development Nazia Parveen Sudhan, Deputy Director Technical Samreen Javed and officials of Azad Jammu and Kashmir were present on the occasion.

The meeting was informed that the main roads should be reconstructed so it would be used for promotion of tourism besides facilitating the commuters.

Divisional development party meeting told projects would be completed at a cost of Rs3.6bn

The officials of the departments concerned of Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir were told to coordinate for the execution of the projects.

The participants of the meeting said the Punjab government would also benefit from these roads as it wanted to develop Kotli Sattian and Dhaan Gali as tourism spots to reduce rush of tourists on Murree.

Under the programme, Kallar Syedan to Dhaan Gali, 22km, road would be reconstructed at a cost of Rs1.12 billion; 24.10-km-long Lehtrar to Kalyari Road at a cost of Rs579.2 million while Rs500m will be spent on the construction of 38-km-long Rawalpindi-Murree-Kashmir Road. Besides, Rs100m will be utilised for the construction of the 18-km-long Kahuta to Panjaar Road and Rs1.29m on the construction of the 12.83-km Dina-Mangla Road.

Speaking on the occasion, the commissioner said funds were available with the divisional administration as 30pc allocation had been released for the projects.

He said the government had asked the administration to ensure the quality of construction material so there would be no need of re-carpeting the roads in the next five to 10 years.

He said the government would also develop new tourist sites in Kahuta, Kottli Sattian and adjoining areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir so that rush on Murree could be minimised.

He said establishment of tourist sites in Kahuta and Kotli Sattian would also promote tourism in the area.

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2019