Infrastructure and Transport News

[Hyde]

China to assist Railways in five mega projects ​

ISLAMABAD (August 05 2009): China has committed to assist Pakistan for carrying out five mega projects to boost Pakistan Railways (PR), which include laying of rail track to connect Central Asian States to increase regional trade. Federal Minister for Railways Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour informed this on Tuesday during a press conference after his weeklong official visit to China.

He said that Pakistan Railways will start work on five mega projects in collaboration with China this year adding that a Pak-China Consortium will be established before starting work on these mega projects. Ghulam Ahmad Bilour during his visit along with a six-member delegation held important meetings with senior Chinese officials as well as the Chinese minister for railways. During the visit, Bilour also visited various railway manufacturing installations.

Federal Minister said that Pakistan Railways will lay down dual track between Khunjrab-Islamabad, Quetta-Kandhar, Gwadar-Quetta, Karachi-Torkhum and Quetta-Iran to start cargo service in an effort to boost trade with neighbouring countries.

He said that railway track between Khunjrab and Islamabad would help in upgrading and strengthening the freight system of Pakistan Railways with Afghanistan. He further said that Pakistan Railways is making all out efforts to start the proposed Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul international first freight train service from August 14.

Minister said that the proposed train service will be a pilot project of Economic Co-operation Organisation (ECO) in line with agreement signed by the three countries in March this year. The proposed service would go full steam once technical difficulties relating to laying different rail gauges in Pakistan and Iran are sorted out.

He explained that the freight train would initially be dedicated for the transportation of cargo containers and would afterwards include other goods and passenger services. He said that it will not only open a new era of socio-economic development and prosperity in this region, but also bring the people closer in every sphere of life.

Bilour said that the proposed train would not only add to economic uplift but also strengthen the friendship and co-operation among the three brotherly countries. He further added that the inter-state goods traffic has sufficient potential to make the venture a success. Federal Minister said that proposed container train from Islamabad to Istanbul via Tehran is a beginning to run passenger train services, enabling Pakistan to join the international club of Railways.

He said that Pakistan Railways would get a chance to strengthen and boost its freight system by launching this freight service. It would also be beneficial in terms of revenue generation and availability of employment opportunities at domestic level, he added.

 

[Hyde]

Faisalabad-Multan Motorway: Gilani to perform ground-breaking on August 18 ​

MULTAN (August 17 2009): Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani will perform the ground-breaking of Faisalabad-Multan Motorway (M-4) on August 18 (Tuesday). It is officially stated here on Sunday. National Highway Authority (NHA) spokesman has said that work on Faisalabad-Multan Motorway (M-4) will start soon after the inauguration and the project would be completed in three years.

With the completion of M-4 the people will have motorway facility from Peshawar up to Multan. He said that NHA was diligently working to implement the National Trade Corridor concept that envisaged a network of motorway and expressways all across Pakistan. He said that the government had released funds required for land acquisition on Khanewal-Lodharan Expressway (E-5).

The spokesman also said the revised PC-1 for Karachi Northern Bypass and recommended it for approval by CDWP and the ECNEC. The project would cost Rs 5.4 billion. The spokesman informed that under the Multan package, the government was paying special attention to development projects in southern part of Punjab province. He said that NHA had completed the design work for Head Mohammad Wala Bridge and work on the project was being done.

He said the project would bring numerous benefits to the people of Multan and other cities. He said the bridge would reduce the distance by 40-km between Khushab and Multan besides providing linkages with Mianwali, Rangpur. He said that efforts were being made to complete the projects in time and at the minimum possible cost.

He also apprised the meeting about various steps NHA had taken to improve the safety of the road users and to modernise the process of toll collection on national highways.

Distance from Faisalabad Motorway to other cities Chiniot: 47 KM, Toba Tek Singh, 77 Km, Hafizabad: 94 KM, Sargodha: 90 KM, Lahore: 143 KM, Wazirabad: 155 KM, Sialkot: 200 KM, Jehlum: 251 KM, Khanewal: 170 KM, Multan: 237 KM, Bahawalpur: 273 KM, D.I.Khan: 270 KM, New Mirpur: 295 KM, Islamabad: 372 KM, Muree: 420 KM, Abbotabad: 475 KM, Muzaffarabad: 496 Km, Kohat: 538 Km, Peshawar: 526 KM, Saidu: 601 KM, Chitral: 737 KM, Gilgit: 901 KM, Sukkur: 691 KM, Larkana:795 KM, Hyderabad: 1006 KM, Thatta: 1104 KM, Karachi: 1182 KM, Quetta: 1096 KM, Bela: 1363 KM and Turbat: 1777 KM

 

[Hyde]

Ecnec likely to approve $1.58 billion KCR project ​

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KARACHI (August 18 2009): The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) is likely to approve the much delayed $1.58 billion Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project in its meeting on Thursday. According to sources, the project has been included in the agenda of Ecnec's, final approval in its meeting scheduled for August 20 in Islamabad.

They said that on the part of government, it was final stage for approval of the project, after which, talks regarding the issuance of loans for the project would be started. The KCR project, which has gone through different studies of experts, both from Japan and domestic, has been facing delays by the concerned authorities since its closure in January 2000, sources said.

The slow paced development of the project, they said, had not only delayed the revival of KCR but it also increased the estimated cost of the project from $872.316 million to $1.58 billion during last few years. The last study of the project were regarding Environmental Impact Assessment (EIAS), which had recently been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for the rehabilitation of the project's affected persons, they added.

The different studies of the project had also completed with guidelines of Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and World Bank. The KCR project was to be funded by the ministry of economy, trade & industry government of Japan, through Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC). Tokyo had commissioned 100 percent funding for the project under "STEP Loan" at 0.2 percent mark-up rate for a 40-year payback time, including a 10-year grace period.

The KCR had gone off the tracks in 1997 due to the losses experienced by Pakistan Railways. Soon after the closure of the circular railway the citizens had to travel either through the congested buses or their own means of transport which increased the vehicular traffic causing the regular gridlocks on the main roads of the city.

According to sources, Karachi, being economic engine of growth and over 16 million population, was facing tremendous growth in traffic at 7.2 percent annually. Beside its disproportionate yearly growth of buses of 17 percent causing congestion and accidents, increasing in travelling time, the railway-based transport system was the need of the hour.

 

[Omar1984]

Govt to construct Bara multipurpose dam in FATA ​

ISLAMABAD: To bring the area of tribal belt at par with other developed areas of the country, the government has to construct Bara multipurpose dam at the cost of Rs 14.208 billion.

The dam is situated across the Bara River in Khyber Agency and the government approved it in ECNEC meeting held a few days ago. “The project will help expose the militancy stricken people to sigh of relief and durable and sustainable development and prosperity.” The sponsoring agency of the project will be Ministry of Water and Power while the executing agency will be the WAPDA.

It would help in ensuring the irrigation of 41,729 acres of land and would generate 5.8MW much-needed electricity.

The said dam was to be constructed under President’s initiative for water and agriculture sector under which 32 small dams would be constructed.

It is pertinent to mention that for 32 small dams in Pakistan, China will extend $700 million on long-term credit and government of Pakistan will contribute $300 million.

However, the type of the proposed dam was an earth core fill dam having height of 92 meters and crest length of 450 meters. The dead storage capacity of the dam was 22,929 acres feet of water live storage was 62,434 acres feet.

The official said that a powerhouse with design power generation capacity of 38.1 Giga watt hour would also be constructed. The overall life of the dam has been estimated to be about 100 years.

However about 50 percent of the live storage would be lost in about 60 years. This meant that the useful design life of the dam was 50 years.

“This dam with live storage capacity of 62, 434 acre feet of water will help bring the prosperity in the FATA and adjacent area of Peshawar as it will provide assured irrigation water supply to 41, 729 acres of agriculture land.” This means that the said dam will help increase the cropping intensity from 99.1 percent to 161 percent.

The official said that the dam would also provide 20 million gallons of water per day, in addition to 10 cusecs regular water supply to Peshawar cantonment and 6 cusecs of regular water supply to local factories in Tehsil Bara.

Later on two power houses of 5.8MW of electricity will be constructed also that will ensure the electricity for the local dwellers at cheaper rates. In addition, the dam will also ensure the production of 155 tonnes of fish that will help turn the life of local into prosperous zone.

 

[ramiz1236]

why the hell we don't set up & use Electric Buses (called trolley bus) it is being used in many countries.It saves oil & are environmentally friendly.
It also doesn't require huge investments as the inter city rail networks requires. Save gas,oil,foreign exchange,environment & a lot of $$$....

 

[Young-khan]

why the hell we don't set up & use Electric Buses (called trolley bus) it is being used in many countries.It saves oil & are environmentally friendly.
It also doesn't require huge investments as the inter city rail networks requires. Save gas,oil,foreign exchange,environment & a lot of $$$....

Good idea but we already have energy shortage, so introducing such buses will be pointless, maybe in the future if and when pakistan can meets is energy needs.

 

[jwh]

It's great to see that our best friend Pakistan gets advanced in terms of infrastructure and transport. I think, as for pakistan, the main task is to maintain the stable political and security situation. I hope a strong and stable Pakistan as our neighbor.

 

[ajpirzada]

Faisalabad-Gojra Section of M-4: NHA awards contract to Chinese firm
TAHIR AMIN
ISLAMABAD (December 04 2009): The National Highway Authority (NHA) awarded the contract of Faisalabad-Gojra Section of M-4 to Chinese Company China Water and Electric Corporation here on Thursday. The project is part of Faisalabad-Multan motorway costing Rs 10.3 billion. Chairman NHA, Altaf Ahmed Chaudhry and President of China Water and Electric Corporation Wang Shoepeng signed the agreement.

Out of Rs 10.3 billion project cost 85 percent would be given by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) while the rest 15 percent in shape of land acquisition will be spent by the government. Total distance of the first package ie Faisalabad-Gojra section is 58 km. The project included four interchanges, nine flyovers and nine bridges. The section of motorway M-4 is designed for speed limit of 120 km/hr with 100m right of way. Renardet S A will work as project supervisory consultant.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman NHA, Altaf Ahmed Chaudhry said that Faisalabad to Multan Motorway (M-4) which is 221km long is divided into six packages, which would cost Rs 40 billion. He said that it was a historic moment for the organisation to start work on this important project.

He said that M-4 was the first motorway project in Southern Punjab and it will provide new opportunities to the people of these areas. He said the 58 km long section would be completed in 3 years and would cost around Rs 10 billion. He also hoped that the Chinese firm would complete the project in time and according to the laid down standards.

With the completion of M-4, the total length of motorways in Pakistan will exceed 800 km and people will have world class road network from Peshawar up to Multan, Altaf said, adding that the construction of M-4 was part of government's plan to establish National Trade Corridor in Pakistan.

"Following this concept, the Gwadar and Karachi Ports will be connected with the northern parts of the country through a network of motorways and Expressways besides providing linkages with the neighbouring countries," NHA chairman added. He further said that NHA was vigorously working on the plan expected to be completed by 2013.

He said that with the completion of National Trade Corridor, Pakistan will be connected to major economic players of this region which will enormously help in boosting the national economy. He maintained that NHA was currently working on 60 projects worth Rs 124 billion, however, due to inflow of funds some of the projects are being delayed.

The president of China Water and Electric Corporation Wang Shoepeng said that his company was working on a number of important projects in Pakistan. He assured that his company would work on the motorway project with the same zeal and try to complete it within the given timeframe. He said that the company had security concerns but the government of Pakistan has assured them of full security.

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

 

[ajpirzada]

it will be a great achievement if we get NTC project completed by 2013

 

[ajpirzada]

President Zardari inaugurates Larkana-Khairpur Bridge

LARKANA, Dec 29 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari here on Tuesday performed the inauguration of Larkana-Khairpur Bridge project on River Indus, near Puranaabad Village in Larkana District.The total cost of the project is Rs 1,444.928 million and has been completed in 30 months’ time.The total length of the bridge is 1.222 kms and it will reduce the distance between Larkana and Khairpur from 128 km to 55 km.President Zardari also laid the foundation stone of Quaid-i-Awam University College of Engineering, Science and Technology.He also laid the foundation stone the Sindh Industrial Trading Estate at Taluka Dokri in Larkana District.

The President also laid the foundation stones of various projects of National Highway Authority (NHA)- 28 kms Larkana-Moenjodaro Airport Road which will also be improved and connected with Raterodero, Khuzdar, Gwadar Road (M-8) and 69 km Sukkur-Shikarpur- Jacobabad Road which will connect Sindh with Balochistan and 200 km Sehwan-Raterodero Road on the Indus Highway.


Meanwhile, Chairman Pakistan People Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari performed the foundation -stone laying of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University Larkana and a cricket ground at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto which would be constructed by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency ) - President Zardari inaugurates Larkana-Khairpur Bridge

 

[ajpirzada]

Terrorists working on foreign agenda: PM
GWADAR, Dec 29 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said terrorists were working on foreign agenda to create instability in the country and said their strongholds were being targeted. Describing them as “speed breakers” in country’s development Prime Minister Gilani said, effective measures were being taken to fight the terrorists.

Talking to reporters after inaugurating the Rs 2.13 billion Gwadar-Jewani road the Prime Minister expressed confidence that terrorism would be crushed.
“I am confident that we will succeed in this war and resolve the issue of terrorism,” he said.
He said the government was working on a strategy to attack the strongholds of militants and said the military operation was being backed by the political and religious leadership.
He mentioned the sacrifices of law enforcement agencies personnel who laid their lives for the country’s defence.
Referring to the blast during the Ashura procession in Karachi, the Prime Minister appealed to the people to observe calm after the tragic incident.
Inaugurating the 67-kilometer long Gwadar-Jewani section of the Makran Coastal Highway, completed in three years, Gilani said the project would ensure city’s economic development and create job opportunities for the locals.

Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency ) - Terrorists working on foreign agenda: PM

 

[Hang em High]

I have heard rumors that Ishrat Hussain [the former governor of SBP] is being considered for the now Vacant Finance Minister seat [Can anyone fill us in on this one].

 

[ajpirzada]

^^ yes. he is one of the 4 candidates. but according to one news, he has declined the offer.

 

[Hang em High]

^^ yes. he is one of the 4 candidates. but according to one news, he has declined the offer.

hmmmmm but please tell me they are not considering Shamim Akhtar the job.

 

[ajpirzada]

no. who is shamim akhtar? our former state bank governor