Work started on CPEC road for easier access to Iran: CPEC Authority chief

Gwadar Pro

Islamabad: China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority Lt. General Asim Saleem Bajwa (retd) has said that work on 103- kilometer Nokundi-Mashkhel road had been started under the CPEC which will grant easier access to neighboring Iran.

“Access to Iran will be improved after construction of these roads,” Bajwa said in a tweet. He said design of 200-kilometer Mashkhel-Panjgur Road is under process.

He said this road will connect Western Route of CPEC N-40 with N-85 and M-8, linking Chagai-Nokundi Sector with Gwadar and the entire remote region.

The CPEC Authority chairman said that Gwadar port was becoming a hub of economic activities under the mega project of CPEC.

The federal government meanwhile said that the development of roads in South Balochistan was key priority of the government to improve connectivity of Gwadar with North.

An official statement said about 60 percent construction work of Basima-Khuzdar road had been completed while construction of Hoshab Awaran road had also been started. “Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision of uplifting remote areas especially South Balochistan is being realized,” said the statement.

The 146 kilometers Hoshab-Awaran project is an integral part of CPEC Central Alignment which connects Gwader Port with the Sindh province. The project is expected to be completed in three years at an estimated cost of Rs 20 billion.

The Basima-Khuzdar road (N-30) is 106 KM long having a cost of Rs11.749 billion. This project is expected to be completed by end of current year.

The 449 KM Quetta to Hoshab road (N-85) had been completed and is operational while the 235 KM long Surab-Quetta (N-25) road had also been completed and was operational.

The 193 KM Gwadar-Hoshab (M-8) road and 250 KM Ratodero–Khuzdar (M-8) road is also operational, according to the CPEC Authority.