PM orders land acquisition for six-lane road of CPEC’s western route, Senate told

• Minister says construction of western route govt’s top priority

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ashan Iqbal on Tuesday informed the Senate that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed for acquisition of land for a six-lane road for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’s (CPEC) western route, the construction of which he said was the government’s top priority.

Responding to queries during the question-hour, the minister told the House that the completion of CPEC projects would open new avenues of progress not only for Pakistan but also for the whole region.

Giving details about CPEC’s western route, Iqbal said that the alignment from Islamabad-Dera Ismail Khan was being finalised while land acquisition for a 100-metre corridor accommodating a six-lane motorway was in progress. He however added that a four-lane motorway would be constructed initially adding upon traffic justification, two additional lanes would be added later on. Subsequent to DI Khan to Zhob, the feasibility study design was in hand, he said.

According to Iqbal, the western passage is proposed to pass through Gwadar-Kech-Panjgur-Washuk-Kalat-Mastung-Quetta-Pishin-Qilla Saifullah-Zhob-Sherani-FATA-Dera Ismail Khan-Mianwali and Attock onward with the northern alignment.

He told the senators that after ground-breaking by the prime minister on December 30 last year work was initiated on up-gradation of Zhob-Mughalkot carriageway (N-50) which would become part of the CPEC’s western passage.

About the Islamabad-DI Khan motorway, he said that work was likely to commence from DI Khan and ground-breaking for it would take place in the first quarter of 2016.

Regarding the new industrial zones under CPEC, Iqbal said that it would be finalised by the joint working group on industrial cooperation between China and Pakistan with mutual consent. He further said that the decision for formation of the joint working group was taken during a meeting of the fifth Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) on November 12, 2015.

The minister told the House that in accordance with the decision of the all-party conference (APC) convened on May 28, a working group had been established (with members from all provinces) to identify potential sites with economic feasibility.

He said that Prime Minister Sharif had constituted a committee to identify the potential sites of industrial zones along western passage of the CPEC under the chairmanship of BOI chairman, adding that this committee had been recommended five sites by the Balochistan chief secretary. He further said these sites included Turbat Industrial and Trading Estate, Khuzdar Industrial Estate, Dasht Industrial Zone near Quetta, Bostan Industrial Estate and Industrial Zone at the junction of Qilla Saifullah, Zhob and Loralai.

The minister said that implementation work on Gwadar Free Zone had already begun as a piece of land, measuring 2,281 acres acquired at a cost of Rs 6,691 million through federal government funding, had been provided to the Port’s operator in a ceremony held on November 11 last year.