ISLAMABAD: The National Highway Authority (NHA) has approved a Rs13 billion PC-1, envisaging acquisition of land for the western route of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The approval was granted in a meeting of the NHA executive board headed by the authority’s chairman here on Wednesday.

“Work on the 288 kilometre section of the western corridor from Burhan to Dera Ismail Khan will start soon. The project has been divided into five sections so that work can be completed in the given timeframe,” an official told the meeting.

It was informed that work on certain projects of the CPEC had already been completed and construction of several other sections was in progress. A portion, measuring 335km on Karakoram Highway from Khunjerab to Rai Kot, has been completed whereas the Hazara Motorway (Burhan-Havelian) will be completed by early next year. Work on the 120km Thakot-Havelian section will also start in the near future.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2016