Projects worth Rs 70 billion underway in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Federal Minister for Communications, Dr Arbab Alamgir Khan Khalil has said development projects worth Rs 70 billion were in progress in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the Ministry of Communications. He expressed these views during a press conference at the site of Peshawar Northern Bypass, in Peshawar here on Saturday. GM NHA Khyber Pakhtunkhwah Region, Yousuf Ali Khan, GM Motorways Shahid Khan, other high officials and local dignitaries were also present.
While briefing the media persons on ongoing projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhawah, the minister clarified that there is no hold up in any communication project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwah except for a short delay in some projects due to shortage of funds and security reasons in some areas, however, now work has resumed on all projects.
Therefore, the minister said that the people should not pay heed to any baseless propaganda of some undemocratic elements. The minister said that Luwari Tunnel is a great project of Khyber Pakhtunkhwah and early completion of this project is our government's top priority on which more than Rs 5 billion have been spent so far.
Dr Khalil said that they do have some financial constraints but they were determined to materialise the dream of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and believed that they would complete this tunnel by 2014. The minister said that the completion of Peshawar Northern Bypass will not only facilitate trade and tourism with Afghanistan and Central Asian States but will also strengthen road links with these countries to boost our economy.
The minister said that Peshawar is facing unprecedented pressure due to expanding population, and the completion of Peshawar Northern Bypass will help minimise this pressure. He said that links roads and interchanges will also be constructed at Charsadda Road, Nasir Bagh and Warsak Road points to connect them with the Northern Bypass, and this 32 kilometers long highway would also have 18 underpasses and six bridges.
Dr Khalil said that Khushalgarh Bridge, connecting Kohat with Punjab is 125 years old and its is now dangerous for heavy traffic, therefore, a new Khushhalgarh Bridge will be constructed by NHA with the aid of MOL Pakistan and OGDCL Pakistan. Work on this project will start next week, which will cost Rs 2 billion. The minister said that Khajrab to Raikot Highway will cost Rs 50 billion and will strengthen our trade with China.
The minister said that Peshawar is his home constituency and he takes exclusive interest in its development. The minister said that underpasses would be constructed at Jehangir Abad and Tehkal Payan and work on Hayatabad Flyover would also start soon. The minister said the Prime Minister Gilani has also promised to sanction Rs 1 billion to connect Northern Bypass with Hayatabad and other areas of Peshawar.
He also said that a Southern Bypass would also be constructed which will connect Kohat to Takhta Beg and will facilitate traffic to Afghanistan for which the prime minister has promised to sanction an additional Rs one billion. The minister said that the NHA manages 11,800 kilometers of roads out of a total of 280,000 kilometers of road network of the country but on this 11,800 kilometers of roads, 80 percent of the country's traffic moves, therefore, it is our endeavour to keep on upgrading this road network under NHA.
Replying to questions, the minister said that HEC and the education sector has been devolved to the provinces under the constitution. Expressing his views on the review petition of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's case, the minister said the case of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto has been termed a judicial murder by notable jurists and the government does not intend to victimise anybody but only wants to correct history to vindicate the supreme leader of the country.
The minister also said that there was no doubt that politicians were also responsible for the problems faced by the country today, but they were not the only ones to be blamed for all the mess, and said that all these problems could be solved if democracy continues.