Part of CPEC eastern route: PM to lay ground for Shorkot-Khanewal Motorway today

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will perform the groundbreaking of another portion of the eastern route of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor Motorway (M-4) Shorkot-Khanewal on Saturday (today), which would be completed at a cost of Rs 22 billion.
The National Highway Authority (NHA) officials told Business Recorder that Motorway (M-4) Shorkot-Khanewal is part of the CPEC eastern route which would be connected to Multan.
Shorkot-Khanewal Section will be completed in two phases. The first phase will comprised on 31 kilometres from Shorkot to Deenpur and the second phase from Deenpur to Khanewal, which will be 34 kilometre long. The cost of the project is estimated at Rs 22 billion and it will be completed in two years.
According to documents available with Business Recorder, the estimated cost of the first phase is Rs 13.17 billion and the second phase is Rs 13.186 billion, however, the bid cost is Rs 11.22 billion and Rs 10.82 billion. The first phase was awarded to M/S China Gezhouba/GRC and the second phase to M/s Xinjiang Beixin while Asian Development Bank (ADB)/AIIB/DFID and government of Pakistan would finance the project.
Further there are a total of three interchanges, 16 bridges, 112 underpasses and 210 water culverts, maintained the document.
Upon completion, this project will open up a new era of economic development in the country and will boost regional, social and economic activities, said official, adding that this will also help promote local industry.
Two sections of the Faisalabad-Multan Motorway (M-4) have already been completed in which the Faisalabad-Gojra Motorway is 58 kilometres long whereas Khanewal-Multan motorway is 57 kilometres long. The work on 62-kilometer-long section of Gojra-Shorkot motor is speedily underway. It is expected that in the next two years, the Faisalabad-Multan Motorway network will be completed. The overall 240-kilometer long project will cut down travel time between Faisalabad and Multan to less than two hours. In future, this project will become a part of the Sukkur-Multan Motorway.
The Faisalabad-Multan Motorway (M-4) is considered to be the backbone for the development of the northern and southern districts of the country. Upon completion, this project will bring about an era of industrial, commercial and economic boom in the country because Faisalabad is famous for its industrial growth. The industrial product of this city will gain popularity in Gwadar and Central Asian states, which will, in turn, promote national trade.
In this connection, Chairman National Highway Authority, Shahid Ashraf Tarar said that with the completion of this 3rd section, the much trumpeted Faisalabad-Multan Motorway project will be accomplished. As a result, this most important highway will become a part of the motorway network of the country.
This will also link the business and travel traffic from Central Asia and Afghanistan via Torkham border with the Gwadar port. This grand development project will not only provide the public with modern and swift travelling facilities but also speed up national and international trade.
According to the approved Transport Plan of the CPEC, the spatial scope of the plan consists of 11 major connection points, ie, Kashghar, Gilgit, Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Sukkur, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, D.I. Khan and Gwadar based on regional transport characteristics as agreed by China and Pakistan. The plan focuses on study of arterial roads, railways, Gwadar Port and also some airport projects.
The multiple passages or the routes of the transport plan of CPEC document are as under:
Northern passage/route (Short Term): Khunjerab - Gilgit - Raikot - Sazin - Thakot - Mansehra - Abbottabad - Havelian - Burhan (M-1)
Western passage/route (Short Term): Peshawar - Charsadda - Swabi - Burhan - Hakia - Fatehjang - Pindi Gheb - Tarap - Daud Kheil -Rehmani Kheil - D I Khan - Mughalkot - Zhob - Qila Saifullah - Quetta - Mastung - Kalat - Sorab -Basima - Nag- Panjgur - Hoshab - Turbat - Gwadar
Eastern passage/route (Short Term): Hakia - Islamabad_ Faisalabad - Lahore - Khanewal - Multan - Sukkur - Hyderabad - Karachi
Connection between Eastern and Western passages/routes (Short Term): Sukkur - Shikarpur - Rattodero - Shahdadkot - Khuzdar - Basima
Central passage/ route (Mid Long term): Shahdadkot - Dera Allahyar - Darya Khan - DI Khan