Islamabad: Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan is expected to inaugurate the Western Corridor of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) on December 16, according to news published on Saturday (December 11).
As per the details, the four-lane motorway will link Hakla Interchange to Dera Ismail (D.I.) Khan on Islamabad to Peshawar (M-1) Motorway. The Western Corridor encompasses a 292.5-kilometre long four-lane motorway with 398 culverts, 119 underpasses, 36 bridges, 33 flyovers, and 11 interchanges. Besides the motorway, the project will include 100 metres right of the way constructed on 62,900 kanals. It is pertinent to note that Hakla-D.I. Khan Motorway was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in 2016, at the cost of PKR 110,208 million. The revised construction cost was PKR 90,702.97 million and it was developed in five packages. The details are:
Package 1 included a 54.6-kilometre-long road section from Yarak to Rehmani Khel
Package 2 included a 71.2-kilometre-long road section from Rehmani Khel to Kot Belian
Package 3 included a 52.5-kilometre-long road section from Kot Belian to Tarap
Package 4 included a 51.2-kilometre-long road section from Tarap to Pindi Gheb
Package 5 included a 63-kilometre-road section long from Pindi Gheb to Hakla
The said project will bring socio-economic benefits for the locals, increase regional trade, decrease travelling time & fuel consumption, and provide easy access to farms and markets. There are several tourist sites in the surroundings of the motorway, hence, it will also promote tourism. Some of the tourism sites include Maple Leaf Cement Factory and Industrial Zone at Skindarabad, Jinnah and Chashma Barrage, the Hilly Valley, and Sheikh Badeen Hill Station.
Iqra holds BS in International Relations and is passionate about writing engaging content on trending real estate topics. When not working, she is either spending time with family, shopping, or discussing shows & movies.
