ISLAMABAD, Feb 3: The caretaker Minister of Communications barrister Habibur Rehman has said that the Quetta-Mashhad bus service will be launched in March.

He said in an interview on Sunday that arrangements for the bus service had been finalised with the Iranian government. The Noshki-Taftan road is being rehabilitated to ensure that the bus service is launched on time.He said that the government attached top priority to developing and extending communications network in the country.

Mr Rehman said that under President Pervez Musharraf’s Vision 2030, the communications sector would play a key role in socio-economic development of the country.

“The road network to be developed under the vision would not only reduce distances but also help boost economy and create employment opportunities in the country,” he added.

The minister also said the main task of the caretaker government was to hold free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections on Feb 18.

However, he added, continuity of various development projects was also the responsibility of the caretakers.

He said that the government had earmarked Rs29,612 million in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2007-08 for the communications division for its various ongoing and new projects while Rs25,040 million had been allocated for the National Highway Authority (NHA).

Speaking about the NHA portfolio, he said at present the authority was working on 68 projects. Early completion of the Lyari Expressway project, Lowari Tunnel project, Rehabilitation of Karakoram Highway, Gwadar-Turbat-Hoshab Motorway project (M-8), Surab-Hoshab Road (N-85) were the top priorities of the ministry, he added.—APP