'Current focus in South Balochistan on building roads'

CPEC Authority chairman says it is for better connectivity, socio-economic development

China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority Chairman Lieutenant General (retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa said on Sunday that current focus in South Balochistan was on building roads for better connectivity and socio-economic development.

Chairman Bajwa, in a tweet, tagged a map showing the Hoshab-Awaran-Khuzdar and Awaran-Bela roads that are being developed.

In South Balochistan,current focus is on building roads for better connectivity and socio economic development. Hoshab-Awaran-Khuzdar &Awaran-Bela (shown dotted in purple) in focus to transform this region. #CPEC #pakistanmakingprogress pic.twitter.com/zpUj6akTjw

— Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimSBajwa) July 26, 2020

On July 25, the special assistant to the prime minister on information and broadcasting said that the construction work on Mansehra-Thakot motorway had been completed.

Mansehra-Thahkot is part of the Hazara motorway that is a 180-kilometre controlled-access motorway linking the Burhan Interchange near Hasan Abdal with Haripur, Havelian, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Shinkiari, Battagram, and Thakot in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

Burhan-Mansehra section was already open for traffic.

Bajwa, in a tweet, said the motorway would be open for traffic very soon.

Mansehra- Thakot Motorway construction work by NHA/ Ministry of Communication completed and will be open for traffic very soon. Most amazing drive it will be. #cpec #pakistanmakingprogress pic.twitter.com/NmtVtNGZSm

— Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimSBajwa) July 25, 2020

Earlier, talking about CPEC in an interview, Bajwa said that the situation in the region was getting better and the country was in a position to take advantage of it, adding that the work on the mega project was in full swing and the direction "very clear".

The CPEC Authority chairman said that Pakistan had formed the authority with the intention of providing “one window operation” not only to foreign but also to local investors.

"Prime Minister [Imran Khan] has said that CPEC is a game changer for Pakistan. He asked me to ensure that the work on it doesn't get slowed down and also allowed me to approach directly to him to get rid of any bottlenecks," he said and added that the authority was in touch with relevant ministries as well as provinces.