PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan was informed on Wednesday that Peshawar-Dera Ismail Khan Motorway scheme would be placed in the agenda of upcoming Joint Coordination Committee meeting to include it in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

According to a statement, the chief minister was chairing a high level meeting here to review progress on mega road projects in the province.

The meeting was told that PC-I of Peshawar-DI Khan Motorway project had already been approved by Central Development Working Party (CDWP).

It was told that commercial and financial feasibility of the project had also been approved for its implementation under public-private partnership if it was not included in the CPEC project.

The meeting reviewed in detail the progress so far made on mega projects in the road sector including Peshawar-DI Khan Motorway, Dir Motorway and other schemes in communication sector.

Additional Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Amjad Ali Khan, Communications and Works Secretary Ijaz Ansari, the managing director of Pakhtunkhwa Highways Authority and other senior officials attended the meeting.

The meeting was briefed about the progress so far made on the proposed 365-kilometere long Peshawar-DI Khan Motorway and 30-kilometre long Dir Motorway projects.

About Dir Motorway project, the meeting was told that PC-I of the scheme had also been approved by CDWP while work on financial and commercial feasibility was also in progress for its implementation under public-private partnership.

Regarding Swat Motorway Phase-II project, the meeting was informed that purchase of land for the scheme was in progress.

The chief minister said that those projects were of vital importance for sustainable development of the province.

He said that government was taking concrete steps for timely launching of those projects.

He said that after completion, the projects would promote trade activities in the province besides providing quality transport facilities to the people.

The chief minister, on the occasion, directed the quarters concerned to ensure progress on those projects as per the stipulated timelines.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2021