KARACHI, Dec 14: The first phase of the Karachi Northern Bypass project was formally inaugurated here on Tuesday. Federal Minister for Communications Mohammad Shamim Siddiqui performed the inauguration by unveiling the plaque at the Hub Chowki intersection.

In his speech, he said development of roads and highways would not only facilitate the travelling people and handling of heavy cargo, but would also play an important role towards rapid progress in the country.

The minister pointed out that the entire project of 57 km, costing more than Rs 3 billion would help accelerate movement of heavy traffic carrying export and import goods without hampering the traffic flow in Karachi city. He said that the bypass would also provide a direct link between Karachi Port and the newly constructed Gwadar Port through the Mekran Coastal Highway.

Shamim Siddiqui thanked President General Pervez Musharraf for his interest and patronage in the project, especially the road networks in this part of the country. The Chairman of the National Highway Authority, Farrukh Javed, also spoke. -APP