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The Makran Coastal Highway
project will help in establishing better
commerce and trade relations with the
neighbouring countries of Pakistan,
particularly, the central Asian republics,
besides, raising the living standard of the
local people. Pakistan has a coastal belt of
about 800-km from Karachi to the
international border with Iran. The portion
from Hub near Karachi up to Jiwani is called
Makran Coast. There are small ports of
Ormara, Pasni, Gwadar and Jiwani along the
coast.
The coastline, west of
Karachi, was devoid of appropriate
infrastructure since long, thereby,
depriving the region of socio-economic
development. In the past no government had
ever paid any attention to the downtrodden
masses of this area, whose economic
conditions, if lifted through a little
attention and some constructive work, could
contribute to the entire economy of
Pakistan.
Before last year, only a dirt
track existed along the coast, which was a
nightmarish journey, also creating hurdles
in shipment of seafood to Karachi from
Balochistan's coastal areas. "The
development of Gwadar Port and
infrastructure along the Makran Coast is key
to boost the national economy," said Brig
Shabbir Ahmed, Commander, Frontier Works
Organisation (FWO), which is constructing
the two sections of the highway.
Last year on July 17, the
construction on section-I of the coastal
highway -- Liari-Ormara -- was started and
till now 40 km has been completed. The FWO,
hopes to complete another 65 km road by
October next. The work of Section-I is
scheduled to complete by July 2003. After
inauguration by Gen Pervez Musharraf on
August 17, construction work on section-III
-- Pasni-Gwadar -- will be started.
By July 1 this year, the FWO
has completed following works: embankment -
105 km, sub-base - 61 km, base - 50 km,
black top - 40 km, bridges - 6, culverts -
112 and sinology - 15 km. The start point of
this section is Sajjad Shaheed Chowk, named
after an Army soldier who died during
initial reconnaissance, and the end point is
Ormara.
The regional economy of this
area is largely based on fishing with
prospects of a substantial growth, following
of fish harbour at several locations ie,
Pasni, Gwadar etc. Impetus to the region
will also be provided by the construction of
the naval harbour at Ormara and the third
deep-sea port of Pakistan at Gwadar. The
construction of water storage dam on the
Hingol River would also result in an
increase in agricultural output in the area.
In addition tourism will also
flourish as Makran Coastal Road project
would link Karachi -- the gateway to
Pakistan -- with coastal areas of the
country. The Makran Coastal Road would
provide an access to the Naval harbour base
at Ormara and would also provide an easy
access to newly emerged central Asian
republics. |
