Development: Lowari Tunnel 45 per cent complete

Lowari Tunnel has been completed at a cost of Rs684 billion, options considered to award contracts for remaining work.

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly was apprised on Wednesday that almost 45 per cent work on the Lowari Tunnel has been completed at a cost of Rs684 billion, while options are being considered to award contracts for the remaining work. Federal Minister for Communication Arbab Alamgir informed the house that contract for construction of the tunnel was deferred due to reservations of the National Highway Authority, but it has been made functional after the required formalities were completed. Alamgir said that a joint venture, M/S SAMBU, is being considered to complete the remaining work on the tunnel. He said the government is also considering rebidding of the contract, or to assign it to Frontier Works Organisation as a single-source project.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 26^th, 2012.