ISLAMABAD: (APP) Construction of Western Route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is included among the top priorities of the government.
An official of National Highway Authority (NHA) told APP on Tuesdsy that construction of Hakla-D.I.Khan has begun.
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif performed the ground breaking of Hakla-Dera Ismail Khan Motorway.
This project, he said, is an important part of Western Route of CPEC.
He said the 285 km-long Hakla-D.I.Khan Motorway will be completed within two years at a cost of more than Rs 142 billion.
He said the project alignment started at Hakla, near Tarnol interchange on M-1 and passed through Fateh Jhang, Mianwali,Kundal and ends at Yarak at Indus Highway (N-55).
He said the alignment of motorway passed through developing areas and its construction will generate new employment opportunities.
The NHA official said ground breaking of the up-gradation of Zhob-Mughalkot section was performed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in December 2015.
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He said up-gradation of Zhob-Quetta highway had also been realized and work on Sorab-Hoshab section was in progress.
He said 193 Km Hoshab -Turbat-Gwadar portion had been completed and rehabilitation of D.I.Khan-Mughalkot section of N-50 would be completed by 2018.
He said dualization of 531 km D.I.Khan to Kuchlak section of N-50 would be operational by 2020.
About dualization of 211 km Quetta-Kalat-Surab section, he said that the project was planned to be completed by 2020.
CPEC western route: 285 Km DI Khan-Hakla motorway starts
The objective of the CPEC was to by RoyalAds” href=”#81800450″> promote trade ties with neighbouring countries including Central Asian States and South Asian countries, which would ultimately prepare to make Pakistan a trade hub in this whole region, he added.