ISLAMABAD, Dec 19: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has directed the National Highway Authority (NHA) to construct an alternative road at the site of the quake-affected area at the Karakoram Highway and complete the ECO Highway at the earliest.

He issued the directives during a briefing on highways by Communications Secretary Iftikhar Rashid and National Highway Authority Chairman Maj-Gen Farrukh Javed here on Thursday.

Mr Jamali appreciated the performance of the NHA and the role it was playing to improve and develop national highways network. He appreciated the fact that policing various sections of N-5 (GT Road) had improved safety and security of the road-users and said that similar measures should be introduced at the ECO Highway and on Sukkur-Sibi-Quetta road, because of its economic importance.

The premier emphasized the importance of the Northern Areas and the need for providing a safe and uninterrupted link with the rest of the country. He underscored the importance of keeping the strategic road links operational round the year particularly the Karakoram Highway .

Mr Javed informed the prime minister that the NHA had entrusted the task of maintaining the KKH to the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) and that every possible measure would be ensured to keep the road operational throughout the year.—APP