$ 100 million to be spent on rehabilitation, reconstruction of 3 highways in NWFP, AJK

ISLAMABAD: There is urgent need to rehabilitate three highways in the disaster areas in NWFP and AJK, which have been badly damaged by the earthquake. The chairman National Highway Authority (NHA) Major General Farrukh Javed while presiding the 134th Exective Board meeting in Islamabad on previous day.

The chairman NHA apprised the board that 100 million dollars for which World Bank has agreed to provide for rehabilitation and reconstruction will be utilized on Basin Balakot Mahindri Naran (N-15), which has been extensively damaged. The amount will also be spent on the maintenance of Balakot Bridge, Bhattal- Thakol N-35 Kohala Muzaffarabad and Muzaffarabad Chakothi road.

He also informed the board that NHA has collected Rs 35 million for PRF and has also sent 115 trucks loads of relief goods and another 16 trucks have been handed over to JS HQ.

The Exective Board also gave approval of award of construction, supervision and design review of Kalat-Quetta to M/S PIVATO at a cost of Rs 1, 875 million. Construction of Gwadar, Jewani section of Makran coastal highway is awarded to FWO. The Board also approved PC-1 for land acquisition, compensation and shifting of the utilized for Faisalabad-Khanewal Motorway.

The meeting was well attended by high authorities of NHA and others. The members of the board appreciated the working of Finance Wing of NHA, which was able to get approval of Audit Financial statement for the year 1999.