Work on CPEC in full throttle as 502 km of western alignment road completed out of 870 km of total stretch
Islamabad, Pakistan: The construction work of Pakistan China Economic Corridor (CPEC) is in full throttle and the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) has finished 502 kilometers of western alignment road in less than one and half year out of 870 kilometres of total stretch.
On the directives of Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Shareef, the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) took the challenge to connect dividends of Gwadar Port with the rest of country by road network, which later became part of western alignment of Pakistan China Economic Corridor (CPEC). The strategic and economic stature is same of as Karakoram Highway (KKH).
Project encompasses construction of 870 kilometers of road. Deployment was approved in February 2014 and FWO units mobilized on site in March 2014. Presently 11 units are employed on Balochistan Projects. Unprecedented efforts were made for mobilization of manpower and equipment on project sites and to date 502 kilometers of road has been completed in less than one and half year.
According to Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) of Pakistan Army, 16 workers gave their lives and 29 severely injured in 136 security related incidents during the construction of the road.
FWO is fully cognizant of the importance of these projects and fully committed to live up to its traditions and complete the project in stipulated time without compromising on the quality of the work.
Construction of these roads will link Gawadar Port with up country by multi – dimensional routes i.e Chaman through N-25, Dera Ismail Khan through N – 50 and Indus Highway N – 55. Pertinent to mention, average progress of work is approximately 1.5 kilometers per day on international standards which is unprecedented in field of road construction throughout the world.
It is worth mentioning here that security, harsh weather, rugged mountainous terrain and remoteness of the area were some of the major challenges against this gigantic and testing project of national importance.
