RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: Torkham-Jalalabad Road (75 kmS) project has begun with funding (Rs 7 billion) from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) which would connect Pakistan and Afghanistan through the historic Khyber Pass.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) National Highway Authority (NHA) Sibtain Lodhi told Business Recorder that all matters relating to the project had been settled and arrangement of funding had been made for Torkham-Jalalabad Road project.

He said the sequel to Pakistan’s announcement last week to begin construction of Torkham-Jalalabad Road Afghanistan, a ground breaking ceremony was organised by the Afghan Ministry of Public Works in Jalalabad; the project envisages laying an additional carriageway by the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO).

He said NHA was an independent organisation and it would launch many projects on Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis through public private partnership.

Total width of this road will now be expanded to 14.6 meters and would be a four-lane carriageway. The highway will be constructed at par with international standards to cater to all types of heavy traffic. As many as seven bridges and six underpasses are part of the project to ensure smooth flow of traffic.

Lodhi said the highway would further strength the deep rooted ties between the two brotherly countries.

The inaugural ceremony of Torkham-Jalalabad Road project was held on May 18, which was attended by Muhammad Hanif Gardiwal, Acting Governor Nangarhar Province; Maj Gen Muhammad Afzal, Director General Frontier Works Organisation (FWO); Syed Ibrar Hussain, Ambassador of Pakistan; Ahmed Ali Hazrat, Chairman of Provincial Council; Engineer Noorgul Mangal, Technical Deputy Minister (MoP W) and other high officials from the two countries.