ISLAMABAD, Feb 1: Japan will provide financial assistance to improve the Kararo-Wad section of Karachi-Quetta-Chaman national highway, and to further develop Construction Machinery Training Institute (CMTI).

Estimated cost of Kararo-Wad highway project is about Rs2 billion, while Rs67million will be provided for the CMIT. To this effect, an agreement was singed at the Ministry of Communications here on Tuesday.

The ministry joint secretary, Firdous Alam, and Aratsu-Yuki from Japan International Cooperation Agency singed the agreement. The project section Kararo-Wad (96km) is a part of the Economic Cooperation Organization Highway. It connects the seaport at Karachi with Quetta and provides access to Afghanistan via Chaman and onward to the Central Asian States.

The National Highway Authority is improving this entire highway. Kararo-Wad Section will be improved with the financial cooperation of Japan. The existing alignment of the project section passes mostly through difficult hilly terrain with some portions located in plain terrain.

The project section involves widening and improvement of road from Kararo to Wad. The road will be of two lanes, and the existing drainage structures will also be improved.