Peshawar-DI Khan, Dir motorways approved

Both projects will be completed under Public-Private Partnership mode

PESHAWAR:

Public Private Partnership Committee of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) has approved the construction of 360-km Peshawar-DI Khan Motorway and 30-km Dir Motorway under Public Private Partnership Mode.

The approval was accorded in a meeting of the Public Private Partnership Committee held here on Tuesday with Chief Minister Mahmood Khan in the chair.

Besides Provincial Cabinet members Chief Secretary Dr Shahzad Bangash, Additional Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Secretaries Finance and C&W, Advocate General Shumail Butt, MD PKHA and other committee members attended the meeting.

Briefing the forum about financial, technical feasibility and other aspects of Peshawar-DI Khan and Dir Motorways, it was revealed that both the projects were technically and financially viable. The 360-kilometer long Peshawar-DI Khan Motorway will be constructed at a total cost of Rs261.6 billion. The six lane motorway will consist of 19 interchanges and seven kilometer long two tunnels and a 30-kilometer service road will also be constructed in populated areas along the motorway.

Touching upon the Dir Motorway project, it was revealed that the 30-kilometer motorway from Chakdara to Rabaat would be constructed at a cost of Rs35.5 billion adding that three interchanges, four over passes, four fly overs, 24 bridges, two tunnels and two under passes would be constructed under the project. The participants were informed that both the projects had already been cleared by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC).

Talking on the occasion, the chief minister termed these projects of vital importance for sustainable development of the province and said that the projects, on completion would prove to be a milestone.

towards economic stability of the province by promoting tourism, trade and economic activities in the region.

He directed the quarters the timely acquisition of land required for the implementation of aforesaid projects. He also directed to ensure strict implementation of relevant rules and regulations in the entire process of the implementation of projects under Public Private Partnership.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2021.