20000219Bayinder to construct Peshawar-Islamabad expressway

Recorder Report

Islamabad: Turkish construction company Bayinder will construct four-lane Peshawar-Islamabad "Expressway", which will be completed by 2002.

This was stated by the spokesmen of the Ministry of Communication and the National Highway Authority while addressing a joint press conference here on Friday.

The NHA representative said that a committee has been constituted under the Finance Division to look into the matter and make it feasible with the mutual cooperation of the Bayinder and NHA.

He said that a Turkish government representative in his meeting with Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf last week had requested to give a chance to Bayinder for construction of the Expressway.

He pointed out that only seven percent work has been completed on the site, while 93 percent work will be completed within next two years.

To a question about the reduction of lanes from six to four he said that decision has been taken after thorough study and keeping in view the insufficient traffic on the previous project of Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway.

To a question about daily income from the Lahore-Islamabad Motorway, he said the NHA is getting Rs 1.4 million daily in the head of toll tax and earned Rs 1.10 billion during the last 16 months.

The Communication Ministry spokesman said that the PTCL would be made division and necessary procedures are being completed in this regard.

About right-sizing in the ministry, he said that all the attached departments have been asked to send list of the surplus corrupt and inefficient employees of their departments. The lists will be sent to the Establishment Division for decision, he added.

He said that work on 1.88-km-long two-lane Kohat tunnel project would be completed by 2003 at an estimated cost of Rs 6.6 billion.

He said the KPT handled 4.78 million tonnes import and 1.51 million tonnes export cargo up to December 1999.

During 1998-99, Pakistan Post Office earned Rs 2695.638 million against the expenditure of Rs 2590.01 million, thus securing a net surplus of Rs 105,608 million, he added.