Pak-China Economic Corridor is the future of the country as it will connect Pakistan with China and Central Asian countries, making it a hub of transit trade in the region.
The proposed alignment of the Pak-China Trade Corridor has been approved, with directions to further evaluate the proposal in terms of time and cost efficiency.Mr. Nawaz Shareef was given a detailed briefing on the alignment of the economic corridor starting from the Khunjerab Pass and ending at Gwadar and Lahore-Karachi Motorway.
The meeting also discussed an alternative and a shorter route along the KKH, connecting Chilas with Mansehra through the Babusar Top. The prime minister directed that this route should be developed on priority basis and a tunnel should be made across the Babusar Top, making it accessible throughout the year. He directed that this route should be connected with Muzaffarabad through a road from Balakot to Garhi Habibullah. “The distances must be reduced by building connecting bridges and tunnels by using the latest technologies and equipment,” he added.
He also directed to prepare a feasibility for constructing a road between Hawalian and Islamabad to provide a shorter route to commuters from Gilgit, Mansehra and Abbottabad. He stressed the need for mitigating the environmental impacts during the construction of these roads.
The meeting also approved the construction of Muzafarabad-Mirpur Road, which will reduce the distance between the two cities to 150 kms and give Mirpur a direct access to G T Road at Dina.
The prime minister was told that the alignment for the Lahore-Karachi Motorway will start from Babo Sabo Interchange on the M-2 passing through Khanewal, Multan, Sukkur, Khair Pur and Dadu.
He also directed to provide interconnectivity and linkages between the Pakistan Economic Corridor, Indus Highway, Motorways and Grand Trunk Road to provide an impetus to the economic activities in the country and easier travel facilities to commuters.
Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Finance, Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Planning and Development, Pervez Rashid, Minister for Information and Broadcasting and National Heritage, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Minister for Railways and Tariq Fatmi, Special Assistant to Prime Minister attended the meeting.