New CPEC road network to improve access to Iran: Asim Bajwa

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority Chairman Lt-Gen (retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa on Sunday said that work on the 103-kilometre Nokundi-Mashkhel road had started that would improve access to Iran on completion.

Bajwa, taking to his official Twitter handle, shared that the detailed design of Mashkhel-Panjgur Road (200 km) was also in process.

He said the entire remote region of Balochistan would be opened by connecting N-40 with N-85 and M-8 (western route of CPEC) by linking Chagai-Nokundi Sector with Gwadar.

The chairman said that Gwadar port was becoming hub of economic activities under the mega project of CPEC.

Meanwhile, an official of the CPEC Authority said that the development of roads in South Balochistan was a key priority of the government to improve the connectivity of Gwadar with the north.

He said that about 60 per cent construction work on Basima-Khuzdar road had been completed while construction of Hoshab Awaran road has also begun.

“Prime minister’s vision of uplifting remote areas especially South Balochistan is being realised,” he remarked.

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The 146 kilometre Hoshab-Awaran project is an integral part of the CPEC Central Alignment that connects Gwader Port with the Sindh province.

The project is expected to be completed in three years at an estimated cost of Rs20 billion.

Similarly, the Basima-Khuzdar road (N-30) is 106 km long, having a cost of Rs11.749 billion. This project is expected to be completed by year-end.

With respect to the completed road projects under CPEC, the official told APP that both 449 KM Quetta to Hoshab road (N-85) and 235 KM long Surab-Quetta (N-25) road had been completed and were operational.

Similarly, the official added that the 193 KM Gwadar-Hoshab (M-8) road and 250 KM Ratodero–Khuzdar (M-8) roads were also operational.