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Plan to have road link with Tajikistan
Dawn
PESHAWAR, Dec 13: Federal Minister for Communication Dr Arbab Alamgir
Khan disclosed that a new road from Chitral to Dushanbe, Tajikistan
would be constructed to link Pakistan with the Central Asian Republics.
Speaking to journalists here at the Peshawar Press Club on Saturday, he
said his ministry had planned to build a number of roads, particularly
trade routes to explore new markets in Central Asia. He said the
proposed Chitral-Dushanbe road would play an important role in promoting
trade between Pakistan and the growing economies in the northern
hemisphere. The minister said that the Peshawar Northern Bypass, which
would encompass Charsadda Road, Warsak Road and Nasir Bagh locality,
would abut on Takhta Beg. He said this 12 kilometres long bypass would
cost a total of Rs12 billion. The minister said the Asian Development
Bank would provide Rs8 billion for the project.
He said that Kohat road would be connected with Takhta Beg in order to
divert the heavy traffic, particularly containers onto the Indus
Highway. The minister said both these projects - NBP and Kohat Road-Takhta
Beg Link Road - would reduce traffic burden on inter-city roads in
Peshawar. He said the under-construction Nowshera-Peshawar road would be
completed on priority basis as it was the main passage, which was
burdened with heavy traffic.
Dr Alamgir said that the under-construction Lowari Rail Tunnel would
become operational by 2010. He said the Lowari Tunnel would be
inaugurated on January 15, but it would take some seven months more to
get its internal work completed.
Dr Alamgir said the government had also planned the construction of
Malakand Tunnel for which he would discuss the matter with a Korean
delegation on December 17. He said this new tunnel would also bring
remote areas closer to the big markets.
The minister said his ministry depended on toll tax, which was its main
source of revenue. He said the Frontier Works Organisation and National
Logistic Cell had handed over 24 toll plazas to the communication
ministry, which would be auctioned on January 15 next through a
transparent process.
About growing lawlessness across the country, Dr Alamgir said this
menace had become the biggest challenge for the government. “We admit it
is a challenge for us, but we will root it out with the cooperation of
the people, who have voted us into power. We are fighting criminals
everywhere in the country,” he said.
To a question the minister said, if any Pakistani national was found
guilty of the Mumbai violence, the government would take exemplary
action against him. “We are a sovereign state. We are not a banana
republic. India is a big country; we respect its sovereignty and
independence and expect same from Delhi. We denounce terrorism
everywhere, because we are victim of it,” the minister said.
He said Pakistan was ready to extend all out support to India in
tracking down culprits, but it would not tolerate any kind of
aggression. The minister said Pakistani armed forces and people were
capable of meeting any kind of challenge.
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