The National Highway Authority (NHA) has been striving to construct network of highways and motorways in less-developed areas of the country and in Balochistan, work on 17 road infrastructure projects is continuing in less developed areas to bring them on a par with the developed ones, an official of NHA told APP on Tuesday.

The NHA official said that for dualisation of 408 km Khuzdar – Chaman section of N-25, including rehabilitation of existing Khuzdar – Kalat section and land acquisition, Rs. 2 billion have been earmarked in the current fiscal year under Public Sector Development Programme.

For dualisation of 210 km Yarik – Mughalkot – Zhob section of N – 50 CPEC western alignment, including Zhob bypass and land acquisition, Rs. 5 billion have been set aside, he said.

For 106 km Basima – Khuzdar Highway Rs. 1,500 million have been allocated in the present fiscal, he said, adding that Rs. 4 billion have been earmarked for Bella – Awaran – Hoshab Road.

For construction of black top road Yakmach-Kharan highway Rs. 3 billion have been allocated while for construction of 80 km road from Harnai to Sanjavi Rs1 billion have been set aside, he informed.

He said Rs1500 million have been earmarked for 200 km Gwadar – Turbat – Hoshab section of Gwadar – Rattodero  while for improvement and widening of balance work of 51 km Kararo Wad section of N – 25, Rs. 1 billion have been allocated.

He said that for 247 km Kalat – Quetta – Chaman section of N – 25 Rs. 500 million have been earmarked

For National Highway Development Sector Improvement Programme a total of Rs. 1.25 billion have been allocated and Qila Saifullah – Loralai – Wagum Rud section of N – 70 is being rehabilitated under this programme.

He said that Rs. 500 million have been allocated for rehabilitation and improvement of 120 km Quetta – Dhadhar section of N – 65 whereas Rs. 1 billion has also been earmarked for 41 km Sanan – Aab-e-Gum connecting road between Sibbi and Kachhi district.

The official said that Rs. 1 billion has also been earmarked for widening and improvement of 459 km Hoshab – Nag – Basima – Surab section of N – 85.

He said that Rs. 1.25 billion has been allocated for construction of 81 km Zhob – Mughalkot section of N-50. Moreover, Rs. 5 billion has been earmarked for Zhob to Kuchlak road, including land acquisition and Nokundi-Musakhel-Panjgoor road, he said – APP