K-P CM inaugurates Swat motorway intersection

PESHAWAR: Days before the end of the incumbent government’s tenure, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak inaugurated on Monday 50 kilometre-long section of Swat motorway.

Khattak participated in the opening ceremony by travelling through the corridor at Colonel Sher Khan interchange Swabi.

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However, only 14 kilometre road between Colonel Sher Khan interchange and Dobian has been opened for traffic.

"It couldn't be opened since the toll plazas at remaining portions are under construction,” said Director-General Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal.

Afzal added that the remaining 36km-long portion will be open for traffic by June 30. No toll fee will be charged until completion of road till Katlang Interchange.

DG FWO also said 50, 000 trees will be planted on both sides of the 81km motorway.

Speaking on the occasion, CM Khattak said Swat motorway project will be completed by December 2018. “We want to extend it to Chitral. It is a joyous occasion for the Malakand Division as the route will boost tourism and pave way for development.”

CM Khattak said the K-P government had collaborated with the FWO for the project. “The motorway will be under the supervision of FWO for 25 years during which they will be responsible for the repair and maintenance. The road will be carpeted every 10 years."

“The project will become profitable once the number of vehicles per day cross 15,000,” he maintained. “The provincial government has paid Rs4 billion for land and another Rs11 billion for the construction of the project.”

Khattak took the opportunity to chide past governments for “not doing anything” during their tenures. “What have other political parties achieved during their respective tenure?” he asked.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PIT) leader claimed that his government had implemented projects in the education and health sectors apart alongside waging "a war on corruption."

Also present at the ceremony was K-P Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser who claimed that Swat motorway was the first motorway built by any provincial government. “It will benefit upper areas of Malakand division by allowing local fruits to have easy access to markets in other parts of the country.”