NHA give approval for work on Yakmach-Kharan Road in Balochsitan

The project will link Chagai with Gawdar in order to boost trade and other economic activities in the region

ISLAMABAD: The Executive Board of the National Highway Authority on Tuesday gave its formal approval for award of work for a mega project for Yakmach - Kharan road in Balochsitan worth Rs 2.42 billion.

The project is said to link Chagai which is one of the remotest areas of the Balochistan province with China –Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) route and also with Gawdar in order to boost trade and other economic activities in the region, said NHA spokesman Kashif Zaman, while talking to The Express Tribune.


He said that the PC-1 of the project which was approved by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) last year, will pass through the districts of Kharan, Washuk and Chagai and will have 50 km long section consists of two lanes.

Moreover, the government of Pakistan is going to finance the project and for this purpose an amount of Rs 800 million have already been allocated under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) during current financial year 2016-17, said Zaman.

Earlier in the meeting chairman NHA, Shahid Ashraf Tarar said that nine Emergency Response Centers (ERC) would be set up in various parts of Balochistan including Danasar, Mina Bazar, Kalat, Sorab, Wud, Kararo, Nag, Wangu and Hoshab. He said that feasibility and design work of these RECs had been completed and they will become operation from the next financial year.

The centers would operate 24/7 and manned by trained doctors and other para medical staff equipped with necessary first aid facilities along with ambulances and cranes for rescue and relief operations.


The primary objective, he said, was to make traveling along national highways in remote parts of Balochistan safer and to ensure timely assistance to the injured in case of an accident.

About the ongoing construction work on CPEC he said the work is in was in full swing and several important projects including Hazara Motorway (E-35), Gojra-Shorkot Motorway, Khuzdar - Rethodero, Lowari Tunnel and Lyari Expressway projects will be completed this year.

The meeting also discussed about the extention of Metro Bus project in Islamabad from Peshawar Mor to the new International Airport.
Zaman further said that the work on the project has been started from new International Airport side however the NHA has not yet given an award for its construction from Peshawar Mor till Golra Mor.