Pakistan on Monday inaugurated construction work on the additional carriage way of Torkham-Jalalabad Road. According to Pakistan embassy in Kabul, an inaugural ceremony was held in Jalalabad to kick start work on the second lane of the road project. The ceremony was attended by a large number of people including parliamentarians, tribal notables and senior Afghan officials.
Addressing the ceremony, Pakistan's Ambassador to Afghanistan, Syed Abrar Hussain, said that his country attached utmost importance to its ties with brotherly country, Afghanistan, and had actively been contributing to the reconstruction and development of the country. The Ambassador said that the construction of the road would not only improve regional connectivity but would tremendously facilitate the Afghan transit trade and travel of business community and the general public as well.
The Ambassador highlighted the projects built with Pakistan's bilateral assistance for the socio-economic uplift of Afghanistan, particularly Allama Iqbal Arts Faculty at the University of Kabul, Liaquat Ali Khan Engineering University in Bulkh, Naeb Aminullah Khan Hospital, Logar 400-Bed Jinnah Hospital in Kabul, Nishtar Kidney Center in Jalalabad, and the provision of three thousand scholarships for the Afghan students.
The Ambassador stated that co-operation between the two brotherly countries was improving in all fields but, unfortunately certain elements were trying to undermine the efforts made by the leadership of the two countries for enhancing bilateral ties. He added that such forces would not be able to spoil the friendly relations between the two neighbours. Earlier, Director General, Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), Major General Muhammad Afzal; Ambassador Syed Abrar Hussain; Acting Governor Nangarhar, Muhammad Hanif Gardiwal and Deputy Minister Public Works, Noor Mengal jointly inaugurated the construction work.
Speaking on the occasion, Afzal assured that all possible efforts would be made to complete the road well in time according to international standard. Welcoming the Ambassador and Director General, FWO, the Acting Governor Nangarhar expressed optimism that construction of the road would bring the two brotherly countries further closer. He deeply lauded the contribution made by Pakistan for the development of infrastructure, education and health sectors in Afghanistan. He said that the people of Afghanistan were grateful to Pakistan which fulfilled their long standing demand by launching work on the road.