As more than 95% of the work has been completed so far, the National Logistics Cell (NLC) provides final touches to one of the most critical components of the western route alignment of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The Hakla-Dera Ismail Khan Motorway project, 285 kilometres long, has been divided into five different packages that have been awarded to different construction companies.
The NLC is working on the project’s Package-1 and will be the first to complete its allocated motorway portion.
Package-1 includes a 4-lane carriageway that originates from Yarik near DI Khan and culminates in the region of Rehmani Khel with a total length of 55 kilometres.
All major infrastructure development works have been completed by the NLC, including carriageway building, two interchanges (one each at Yarik and Abdulkhel), six underpasses, four bridges and other facilities such as housing and toll plazas, etc.
Ancillary construction is currently underway on a number of weighing stations, which is expected to be finished prior to the scheduled completion date of 31 March.
The NLC has planted 154,000 saplings on the right-hand side of the road as the motorway passes through sandy and rugged terrain with little to no forest cover.
The plantation is part of the Pakistan Army’s “Sar Sabz-o-Shadab Pakistan” afforestation campaign across the region.
In addition to dramatically reducing the travel distance between Islamabad and DI Khan, the motorway will also connect major highways, i.e. N-50 and N-55 at Dera Ismail Khan Intersection, which will open up new perspectives for socio-economic growth in the country’s historically underdeveloped regions.
After the completion of this enhanced connectivity project, the vast expanses of North Punjab, South KP and North West Balochistan will be opened for all kinds of commercial activities, leading to a remarkable improvement in the living standards of the people of the area as a whole.
