SKARDU, Pakistan: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Wednesday was given a briefing on the 64-kilometer-long Gilgit-Jaglot-Skardu highway that would  be completed at a cost of around Rs 31 billion by December 2019, six months earlier that the scheduled completion time.
While briefing the prime minister about Gilgit-Jaglot-Skardu highway and other road projects in Gilgit-Baltistan, the Chairman National Highway Authority (NHA) said the project was being built in collaboration with the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) on Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis.
The prime minister was apprised that the road would have double the width of 40 feet – nine meters including its shoulders – and would be much safer and fast than the existing road.
The road’s ground-breaking was earlier performed by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The project comprised five tunnels to speed up the traffic besides having five bridges that would complete by May 2018.
The Chairman NHA also spoke of the upgradation of Karakoram Highway, construction of five tunnels at Attabad lake site and ongoing work at Havelian Thakot section including the 6-lane Hazara Motorway.
He said the work on 354 km long Gilgit-Chitral road would start soon.
The prime minister expressed his satisfaction over the pace of work and said the completion of this road was a longstanding desire of the people of area. He was particularly appreciative of Director General FWO Lt Genreral Muhammad Afzal for undertaking a very difficult task, and that too before schedule.
