KARACHI, April 6: Federal Minister for Communications Babar Khan Ghauri on Tuesday launched work on the improvement and widening of the carriageway of Shahrah-i-Darul Uloom (old Korangi 8,000 road).

The length of the project is 12 kilometres and the estimated cost Rs7 million. The estimated completion time is 12 months but the minister expressed the hope the project would be completed ahead of schedule. He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony there.

The Frontier Works Organization, under the supervision of the National Highway Authority, will execute the project. The Export Promotion Bureau will finance it to fulfil its commitment to the Karachi Package, he said.

NHA Chairman Lt-Gen Farrukh Javed told the minister that the work would involve a dual carriageway with a three-lane capacity on each side, and each lane would be 3.65 metres wide.

Service roads would be constructed on both sides of the carriageway. Stormwater drains would be built on both sides, footpath of three-metre width on each side, six roundabouts and octagonal electric poles with 35 metres spacing would be installed.

PQA EMPLOYEES: The Port Qasim Authority employees will get a 15 per cent raise in their salaries with effect from July 1, 2003, and a bonus is also being worked out for them.