QUETTA, Sept 6: The government is spending Rs26.98 billion on 396 road projects in Balochistan, officials said here on Wednesday. They said that funds had been allocated for building bridges, widening roads and improving transportation networks in the province, adding that Rs8.505 billion had already been spent.

The sources denied the impression that the government was building roads in particular districts and said that roads were being built not only in Kohlu and Gwadar, but also in Sibi, Bolan, Killa Saifullah, Killa Abdullah, Panjgur, Loralai, Barkhan, Khuzdar, Turbat, Kalat, Kharan, Nasiabad, Pishin, Jaffarabad, Jhal Magsi, Ziarat, Lasbella, Awaran and other districts in the province.

Referring to the Dera Bugti area, the sources said that work on Lehri-Sangsila (Dera Bugti) Road was in progress and Rs79.680 million had been allocated for the project out of which Rs59.4 million had been spent.

They said that the road would provide direct access to Dera Bugti from Balochistan instead of passing through Sindh to reach the district.

The province, they said, was witnessing an unprecedented progress in road sector.

The road network, they said, was being created which would provide greater transportation facilities to the people.

“The road network will promote regional trade besides bringing people closer to each other by reducing distances and improving socio-economic conditions,” the sources said.—APP