US$97 million WB backing for Pakistan-Afghanistan expressway

The Pakistan Government is launching a US$97 million expressway project to link with Afghanistan. World Bank financing will help pay for the Khyber Pass Economic Corridor (KPEC) development project in Pakistan’s northern area. The objective is to expand economic activity between Pakistan and Afghanistan by improving regional connectivity and promoting private sector development along the Khyber Pass Corridor.

The project comprises two main components: Component-I: Development of Peshawar- Torkham Expressway (PTEX), Including Southern Link Road. Component-II: Development of the Khyber Pass Economic Corridor.

Pakistan’s National Highway Authority (NHA) has been asked to implement this Project under Component-I. Component I is divided into Expressway Development through the Design and Construction of the Peshawar - Torkham Expressway Design and the Peshawar Southern Link Road construction.

According to the NHA, to move forward, a service of an environmental specialist is being hired for the Khyber Pass Economic Corridor Project (KPEC).

Meanwhile, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) recently approved another northern area project of the Ministry of Communications, Government of Pakistan, titled the Peshawar Northern Bypass Project (PNBP), costing US$97 million (Rs 27.051 billion). The project envisages the construction of a 32.2km, 4fourlane bypass with service roads on either side, on the northern side of Peshawar city. The bypass will be constructed along a new alignment passing through agricultural land with allied facilities.