ISLAMABAD, Dec 21: Vice Chief of Army Staff Gen Mohammad Yousaf Khan on Saturday inspected the constructed portion of the Makran Coastal Highway and extold officials of the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) for their efforts.

Speaking to the officials on the occasion, he said construction of the highway was a challenging task which called for devotion and dedicated professional approach.

The vice chief of army staff expressed the hope that the organization would yet again come up to the expectations of the nation as well as of the army in completing the assigned task.

About army’s contribution in construction and rehabilitation works, he said that besides guarding the frontiers of the motherland, Pakistan Army had always stood side by side with the nation in undertaking all development projects.

“May it be the Karakoram Highway, improvement of communication infrastructure in the rugged mountains of Balochistan, or any natural calamity, the army has always tried to live up to the expectations of the nation,” he said.

The vice chief of army staff said improvement of communication infrastructure had been priority of the Musharraf’s government in the last three years, and added that the highway would certainly have far-reaching effects in strengthening the national economy and bringing prosperity to the area.

Earlier, Gen Yusaf Khan drove to Aghore and Ras Malan, and inspected various patches of the road. He flew over the Liari-Ormara section of the road and had an aerial view of the Makran Coastal Highway.

Corps Commanders Lt-Gen Abdul Quadir and Lt-Gen Tariq Waseem Ghazi, Engineer-in-Chief Lt-Gen Mohammad Zubair and Maj-Gen Shahid Niaz, director-general of the FWO, also accompanied the vice chief during his visit to the Makran Coastal Highway.—APP