81km Swat Expressway to cost Rs 28.30 billion, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister told

KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has said that PTI led coalition government is leaving no stone unturned to provide better communication facilities to the people like all other sectors as he said only the roads and latest communication facilities can lead us on road to socio economic progress and prosperity.
He was chairing meeting on Swat Expressway at CM Secretariat Peshawar. The meeting besides the concerned authorities was also attended by Speaker Provincial Assembly Asad Qaiser and Special Assistant to Chief Minister C&W Akbar Ayub. The Chief Minister was told on this occasion that a comprehensive survey has been conducted following his special instructions in this regard. The 81- KM long Expressway will cost Rs 28.30 billion while its completion will save over 2 hours journey between Motorway Colonel Sher interchange and Chakdara. Swat Express Way will pass through open and scenic areas of four districts Nowshera, Swabi, Mardan and Malakand. It will be completed under public private partnership (PPP) in three years while land for service road on both sides of Expressway will also be allocated. Pervez Khattak directed for starting practical work on the project as soon as possible. He sanctioned release of Rs 2.30 billion for the purpose. However he made clear that floating of tenders for the Express Way and services of private sector must be hired on transparent basis.
He expressed satisfaction that Asian Development Bank, Korea, Japan and other foreign donor agencies have expressed interest in execution of the project under PPP and hoped that the project will be completed on international standards to increase its importance. He said that this express way will facilitate the people travelling to big cities of Malakand Division including Swat, Dir and Chitral as well as it would greatly contribute in promotion of tourism in the area because all the natural beauty and scenic places of these mountainous areas would become more accessible for the tourists.
Similarly he said that transportation of agricultural and industrial produce will also become comfortable through this express way and hence would boost the agriculture and industrial sectors. He said that provincial government was seriously considering establishment of a new industrial estate in Malakand and suitable place for this purpose was being searched.