Ayesha Saba

The National Highway Authority has decided to encourage private investors to participate in the construction of different highway, tunnel, bridge and motorway projects. “A Public-Private Partnership Cell has been established at the NHA headquarters to encourage private sector participation in building and expanding road infrastructure in the country. Collaboration of the public and private sectors for developing highways and motorways will help foster economic activity in the country,” an official of the authority told WealthPK.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said that one of the key components of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was the development of road infrastructure, which was critical in speeding up Pakistan’s economic growth. The official said the CPEC had already helped Pakistan spread a network of motorways and highways across the country.

“The NHA is expanding the road infrastructure under CPEC to put the country on the fast track of economic development and prosperity,” he added. The official said that the NHA was currently operating 39 national highways, motorways, expressways and strategic roads, which were Pakistan’s major inter-provincial road links, comprising 12,131 kilometers.

“Under the CPEC, NHA has launched different projects to provide a smooth and efficient transport system. The authority has already completed the Burhan-Havelian, Havelian-Thakot Expressway, Sukkur-Multan Motorway and 297km-long Hakla-DI Khan Motorway.

“The NHA is also working on a number of long-term projects, including the 200-kilometre Mirpur-Muzaffarabad-Mansehra Road; Maskhel-Panjgur Road, Quetta Mass Transit, and Greater Peshawar Regional Mass Transit, all of which are now in the design and feasibility stages,” the official maintained.

Meanwhile, Prof Fakhr-ul-Islam, Director Pakistan Study Centre, University of Peshawar, while talking to WealthPK said the development of the road networks under CPEC had boosted Pakistan’s economic expansion.“CPEC’s vision and mission to achieve economic development through trade linkages beyond geographical boundaries can be realised by improving transportation infrastructure,” he stressed.

He stated that Pakistan would be able to accrue the full benefits of this gigantic project through an upgraded and expanded road network in order to meet the future potential increases in human and product movement. “While expanding the road networks, innovative financing techniques, private sector participation, and environmental concerns must all be taken care of,” he underscored.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk