Islamabad: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Monday in a meeting presided over by Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan, gives a nod to four development projects worth 121.5 billion including the 108 billion Khariaan Rawalpindi Motorway Project. The previous said Project was however sent to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval. The 117 KM long four-lane road initiating at junction interchange at Khariaan on Khariaan Sialkot Motorway and culminating at T Chowk Rawat in Rawalpindi would provide the shortest route from Lahore to Rawalpindi. The project entailing green field controlled-access facility is to be completed in two years under public-private partnership. A few months back, after the Transaction Structure Approval Of The Khariaan RWP Motorway From PPPA, the developmental work is again started and authorities want quick progress.
The other three projects approved by the CDWP include, “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Spending Effectively for Enhanced Development (SPEED) (IDA Assisted)” worth Rs2.57bn, “Upgradation of University College of Engineering & Technology Mirpur into Mirpur University of Science & Technology, Mirpur (Prime Minister of Pakistan Directive)” worth Rs. 1.89bn and “Punjab Tourism for Economic Growth Project (PTEGP)” worth Rs. 8.5bn for promotion of tourism by improving access to and repair and maintenance heritage sites namely, Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, Gurdwara Rori Sahib, Gurdwara Sacha Sauda, Katas Raj Temples, Mankiala Stupa, Taxila Museum, Bibi Jawindi, Lahore Museum, Qila Kohna Qasim Bagh, Rohtas Fort, Badshahi Mosque a Taxila Buddhist Circuit and Darbar Khawaja Ghulam Fareed. The meeting was attended by Secretay Planning, Officials of the Planning Commission, and representatives of other concerned ministries. The officials of the provincial governments attended the meeting through video links.
The Khariaan Rawalpindi Motorway will be constructed by National Highway Authority (NHA) however the NHA will have to reach an understanding with Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) for Rawalpindi Section Interchange. The Motorway is basically an Extention of Lahore Sialkot Motorway and Sialkot Khariaan Motorway that start near Khariaan and Culminates at T Chowk Rawat which is the junction of Islamabad Expressway and GT Road Rawalpindi. The Motorway will pass through Jehlum, Mangla, Dina Sohawa, Gujar Khan and Madra will culminate at Rawat. Currently, the road is four-lane but later it will be expanded to six lanes later on as required by the volume of traffic on the road. The Kharian Rawalpindi Motorway will traverse parallel to N5 from Jehlum to Rawalpindi. The construction of the Kharian Rawalpindi motorway passing through the fertile lands of Punjab province will not only provide easy access to the residents of the area but also provide an opportunity to the farmers and manufacturers of various products to easily have access to the market.
