K & P

30-day deadline set for Swat Motorway phase-II

Officials say the highway will be protected with flood protection walls

Our Correspondent July 29, 2019

PHOTO COURTESY: PAKWHEELS

PESHAWAR: The provincial communications and highway authorities have been given a month to complete work on the second phase of the Swat Motorway apart from building link roads which will connect the Swat University to the highway.

This was directed by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Sunday while chairing a meeting regarding Swat Motorway phase-II.

CM Mahmood stated that the highway will be critical in connecting many villages in the mountainous valley, adding that providing them access to major routes which will help boost the economy of the once militant-ruled region.

Mahmood furthered that they will have to build around two kilometres of link roads to connect to the ski resort of Malam Jabba with the motorway via the Charbagh Interchange.

Moreover, he said that the motorway will play an integral role in promoting tourism because it is not only expected to provide easy access to tourist spots but will also help generate revenue through trade and commerce at the national level as well as at the regional and local level.

Earlier, the chief minister was briefed about the scope and design of the motorway’s second phase. He was told that the length of the first-ever motorway built by the provincial government is 164 kilometres. This includes an 82 kilometre stretches from Col Sher Khan Interchange to the Chakdara Interchange and a further 82 kilometre stretch from Chakdara to Bagh Dheri.

With a flood warning in effect for Swat currently, officials told CM Mahmood that all necessary arrangements will be made to protect the motorway from being washed away, including the installation of flood protection walls.

Apart from the Swat motorway, Mahmood said that the provincial government is also working on constructing a motorway from Peshawar to Dera Ismail Khan which will connect the newly-merged tribal districts with major markets of the province and the rest of the country.

The meeting was attended by the K-P Communications and Works Minister Akbar Ayub Khan, K-P Highway Authority managing director, Principal Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, C&W Secretary Professor Dr Shahzeb Khanzada and other officials.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 29^th, 2019.