The Lasbela Chamber of Commerce has welcomed the announcement of repair of the Hub River Bridge connecting Karachi with Balochistan alongside the construction of a new bridge, which would join Karachi with the province.

As per details, Lasbela Chamber of Commerce President Ismail Sattar said that General Manager of National Highway Authority (NHA) Balochistan South Sham Sundar has informed him about the move in a meeting. He said that according to Sham Sundar, the chairman of NHA has issued orders regarding the plan for the early construction of the new bridge.

He said that the present bridge was constructed in 1962 and it is still usable. Ismail Sattar informed the General Manager NHA that the existing bridge has become inadequate due to the increase in heavy traffic. Furthermore, due to recent rains the flood relay damaged the extra support of the bridge pillars.

Ismail Sattar said there was a serious risk of damage to the bridge if sand mining on both sides of the bridge was not strictly stopped. He said the Lasbela area is the largest regulated industrial area in the province, accounting for more than 75pc of the province's revenue.