ISLAMABAD: The transport infrastructure project, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), has made remarkable progress snce its launch, according to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2022-23, shared by Finance Minister Ishaq dar.
It said that realizing the significance of modern transportation infrastructure, the CPEC offers a unique opportunity for Pakistan to integrate with the regional markets.
On the eastern alignment (roadway projects located in Punjab and Sindh), the groundbreaking of the Sukkar-Hyderabad (M-6) section of the motorway was held last December.
On the western alignment (projects located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northwestern Punjab and Balochistan), the groundbreaking of the Dera Ismail Khan-Sagu section of N50 was also carried out during the same month, the document said.
In addition, the construction work on the 298-kilometre Zhob-Kuchlak road project was in under way. Other projects such as Khuzdar-Basima (110-kilometre), Nokundi-Mashkhel (103-kilometre), and Hoshab-Awaran M-8 (146-kilometre) are likely to be completed as per schedule.
The documents said that Sagu-Zhob project (N-50) is under discussion with the Chinese side and will likely be initiated soon.
Due to the construction of the Dasu and Bahsha dams, the existing Karakoram Highway alignment will be submerged. Therefore, a G2G Joint Technical Working Group was notified to carry out the feasibility study for realignment of the Rajkot-Thakot section of the KKH, which has been agreed by both sides.
Other agreements under CPEC
The concessional financing deal for the landmark ML-One project is likely to be finalized soon, and subsequently, the ground-breaking arrangement of the project will be made.
The framework deal of the Karachi Circular Railway has been shared with the Chinese side to start the project under the CPEC framework.
Lastly, the feasibility studies of the new projects Mirpur-Muzaffarabad-Mansehra, Babusar Tunnel, and M-9 Motorway have been proposed to be addressed under the CPEC framework in the next Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting of transport infrastructure. APP
