90 percent roads in quake-hit areas opened

19 Oct, 2005

The government claimed on Tuesday that about 90 percent of the road network in earthquake affected areas have been opened and work in remaining areas was also in progress at full swing.
Federal Minister for Communication, Muhammad Shamim Siddiqui said this during his visit to the National Highway Authority Relief Centre.
Chairman NHA, Major General Farrukh Javed and senior officers of ministry of communications and national highway authority were also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Shamim Siddiqui said opening of road network was government's top priority to facilitate the rescue operations in the damaged areas.
Hectic efforts, the minister said were underway to open the closed roads and added that the work on worst damaged Neelam Valley road was also in progress at rapid pace.
Siddiqui said three kilometres road ahead of Balakot has yet to be opened while he hoped that Neelam Valley road would be opened in next one week.
The minister said following the directives of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, National Highways & Motorway Police has taken control of Abbottabad-Mansehra and Kohala-Muzaffarabad road.
Chairman NHA, Farrukh Javed briefed the communication minister on this occasion about the authority's efforts to restore country's road link with earthquake stricken areas.

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