Federal Minister for Communications Mr Baber Khan Ghouri is inaugurating the newly constructed Captain Mohammad Iqbal Shaheed (HJ) bridge over River Indus at Khairabad on May 20, 2004.
The bridge is one of the significant projects of the National Highway Authority (NHA), Ministry of Communications, which has recently been completed.
The Khairabad Bridge is a part dualisation of Chablat-Nowshera additional carriageway project.
Construction of this bridge was decided keeping in view the increasing traffic volume at this place. A salient aspect of the bridge is that it has been completed within available national resources. A Pakistani Engineer designed it and was also constructed by indigenous construction Company.
This 701 m long bridge of unique designing has been completed at cost of Rs 450 million and width of clear carriageway is 8.5 metres.
For the pedestrians 1.175 meter wide footpath has also been built on either side of the bridge.
The technology and expertise gained in the implementation of this project is worth exporting to the neighbouring countries. It is a source of pride to state that this bridge has the longest single span of 200 m of its kind in the sub-continent.
Successful completion of the bridge is undoubtedly another step forward towards self-reliance in the field of construction.
In fact building and extension of communication links pave the way for socio-economic development.
Keeping in view the importance of this sector, the present Government desires rapid development of communications network for which concrete policy has been chalked out.
A co-ordinated highway communication network plays vital role in all round development of some country and it greatly affects the life style of the people. With the view to bring the people closer, the NHA has planned a comprehensive Programme to build, develop, repair and extend the national highways, motorways and bridges in various parts of the country.
The NHA is doing a tremendous job to this effect and is performing a significant role for providing firm economic infrastructure to the country. The promoting commercial and business activities have also necessitated to establish a modernised highway network in the country.
1819 km long Karachi-Lahore-Peshawar national highway (N-5) is the lifeline of the country, and is the only vital North-South link.
This highway is the center of economic and social activities as most of the major cities and business centers are located all along this main artery.
In order to meet the requirements of the increasing transportation of trade goods and passengers, it was decided to dualize the entire N-5, which is undoubtedly a great task that is underway on priority basis. 1036 km long portion of this highway has been dualized.
Construction of Khairabad Bridge is also included in this dualisation programme. The Bridge will provide smooth flow of traffic between Punjab and the NWFP and reduction in travelling time will be an added advantage.
Besides, dualisation of Chablat-Nowshera additional carriageway, work on other projects in the NWFP is also in progress.
Work on Mansehra-Kaghan-Naran-Jalkhad road is in progress, which will further be extended upto Chilas that will provide an alternate shorter route between Rawalpindi and Gilgit.
Work on Barian-Nathiagali-Abbotabad road has already been completed, while Karakorum highway is also being improved.
Construction of Islamabad-Muzaffarabad highway is also among the NHA's priorities that will reduce travelling time between these two cities.
Such projects enjoy great significance from tourism viewpoint and their completion will generate new chances of employment's for the local population.
Construction activities on Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway (M-1) has also been restarted and the remaining work of M-1 is being completed by a consortium of Pakistani construction companies.
Projects like Pindi Bhattian-Faisalabad Motorway (M-3) and on going Islamabad Peshawar Motorway (M-1) will give confidence to the indigenous experts and they would be able to undertake other developmental projects with more confidence and devotion.
The under construction Indus highway will prove another valuable addition to our highway network. 11 sections of 1st and 2nd phases of Indus highway have been completed, while measures are being adopted to undertake the 3rd phase of this project.
Completion of the Indus Highway will reduce distance of about 400 kms between Karachi and Peshawar as compared to the Karachi-Lahore-Peshawar national highway.
Great Friendship Tunnel (Kohat Tunnel) is a part of the Indus Highway, which has also been completed a few months back.
653 km long Makran Coastal highway is another significant project which is also being built and its Liari-Ormara Section has been completed. Besides the Karachi Northern Bypass and the Lyari Expressway projects are being completed at a rapid pace.
These projects will greatly facilitate transit traffic between Pakistan, China and the Central Asian States and to this effect; trade agreements have already been signed.
Trade activities in the near future will cast far-reaching positive effects on the economy of Pakistan in particular and on the economic conditions of the whole region in general.-PR
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