Islamabad: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a loan agreement with the Government of Pakistan to upgrade the Mardan-Swabi Road, a news source reported. The agreement comes with a loan worth USD 75 million aimed at widening the 42-kilometres long road in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).
ADB Country Director for Pakistan Xiaohong Yang and Economic Affairs Division Secretary Noor Ahmed signed the agreement.
This financing initiative will expand the scope of the existing loan of USD 140 million for the on-going K-P Provincial Road Improvement Project.
The original project was geared for improving eight sections of the key provincial roads – in terms of boosting transport efficiency and safety. The ADB Board of Directors had approved USD 75 million for this phase in December 2018. This loan money will be used for upgrading the existing two-lane road between Mardan and Swabi to a four-lane divided road network.
Reportedly, the upgraded road will accommodate increasing traffic, and enhance the project’s environmental resilience.
The project also includes the construction of tolling and gender-sensitive amenities, bus shelters, and pedestrian facilities. Additionally, it will promote road safety measures for the purposes of capacity building for the K-P Communications & Works Department.
The Mardan-Swabi Road is also significant in terms of tourism – and the project is anticipated to create ease for tourists. The road also covers the agricultural and industrial heartland of K-P along the Indus and Kabul rivers. Hence, truckers and other commuters are expected to benefit from this upgrade.
