Nowshera-Chitral Highway: Rs2b allocated for tunnel project

ISLAMABAD: Attaching top priority to the early completion of Lowari Tunnel, the government has allocated Rs2,000 million for the project located in Dir district on Nowshera-Chitral Highway. The estimated cost of the project was Rs18,132.5 million while so far Rs11,935.551 million has been spent. An official of the National Highway Authority told the media on Monday that work on the Lowari Tunnel started in September 2005 and as per original plan the project was to be completed by September 2010. However in 2009, the then government opted for a conversion of the tunnel from rail to road and its revised completion date is October 2017. He said the prime minister has directed the authorities to review the project and ensure its completion by the set timeframe. Being a highly strategic transportation project, it is 8.75 kilometres long and would connect Dir district and Chitral Valley. The project can establish trade and commerce links between Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asia.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16^th, 2015.

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