A state-of-the-art border trade complex will be constructed at Torkham in Khyber Agency to improve the border crossing facility and control the movement of people and goods in the transit trade. The project would cost Rs 913.479 million with a foreign component of Rs 270 million. A detailed presentation on the project was given to NWFP Governor Khalil-ur-Rehman here at the Governor's House on Saturday which was also attended besides others by the Governor's Principal Secretary Brigadier Asad Munir (Retd), Fata Security Secretary Arbab Mohammad Arif, and Khyber Agency Political Agent Dr Fida Wazir. Fata Works and Services Chief Engineer Amir Shahbaz, while making the presentation, highlighted various aspects of the project.
According to the plan the entire Border Complex covering 626 kanals of land will comprise customs and immigration offices, two-way customs and immigration terminals having separate routes and checking and scanning plazas for pedestrians, passenger vehicles, and goods carrying vehicles from both sides along with other infrastructure.
The project on completion would not only create long lasting job opportunities for the locals, but also help in the overall socio-economic uplift of the under-developed area.
The consultant of the project, Tariq Hayat, highlighted various proposals with regard to the master plan of the project, saying that two proposals regarding the construction plan were under consideration both having all the required facilities. He explained basic drawings and facilities with the help of computer sketches that the complex would have on completion.
It was also told on the occasion that the prime minister had already entrusted construction of the project to the National Logistic Cell (NLC). The Islamic Development Bank has also taken interest in the project.
The governor, in his observations, declared that the project a unique in the sense that it would be the first modern and the state-of-the-art border crossing in the country.
He said that on completion it would not only make the border crossing more systematic and facilitative, but would also augment the trade volume on this centuries-old trade route.
Khalil-ur-Rehman, however, stressed that the problems and issues in the smooth implementation of the project have to be resolved at the initial stage and suggested step by step movement in this regard.
Earlier, NLC Director General Major General Khalid Zaheer Akhtar also called on NWFP Governor Khalil-ur-Rehman to discuss the Torkham Border Complex project.
He told the governor that the prime minister has asked the NLC to start the work on the project.
He, however, desired that the land compensation should be scaled down.
The governor assured him to look into the issue of acquisition of land and resolve the differences on merit.
Comments
Comments are closed.