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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.
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