The role of infrastructure in an economic process is of immense importance. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor envisions an in depth overhaul of the prevailing transportation infrastructure in Pakistan and laying out of latest routes for the facilitation of transit trade and enhancement of market accessibility. As an important a part of the CPEC, China and Pakistan have joined hands to putting together the transportation infrastructure.
Importance of Infrastructure:
The initial infrastructure investment under CPEC is US $ 13.58 billion. Infrastructure effects the society from two main dimensions from economical aspect and from the social aspect. The latter are often considered because the results of former as economic infrastructure is supposed to oversee and arrange a structure for contemporary industrial activities while the social infrastructure focuses in providing opportunities to the society in enhancing and improving their social and human capital. Road networks help in providing employment, facilitates the intercommunity migration and trade, improves human productivity and hence, alleviates poverty.
Early harvest projects
KKH Phase 2:
Covering the length of around 440km, with the documented total investment US$1,366 million, the KKH phase II clinical trial links the regions of Gilgit Baltistan and KPK with the capital of Pakistan. This includes the development of bridges, culverts and other allied facilities under the responsibility of proposing ministry (ministry of communication), the implementing ministry (National Highway Authority NHA), Supervising Agency (Ministry of Communication and Government of Paksitan) and eventually the Contractors (CRBC and CCCC). it's a 4 year project initiated during September, 2016 and can be finalized till March 2020, while the areas and cities in dire need of this project are going to be entertained after May, 2018. These regions include Havelian, Abbottabad and Mansehra covering a distance of just about 40km.
Peshawar-Karachi Motorway:
This section of the motorway links the Punjab to Sindh covering 392km with estimated budget of US$ 2,980 million. It envisages the development of a 6-lane access of road connectivity on a complete length of 1,100Km. This may even be utilized as a source of income by implying toll tax. This motorway is originating from the motorway of Karachi through M-9 up to Hyderabad (136Km). From Hyderabad this road extends towards Sukkur completing the length of 345Km. The MultanSukkur section follows alongside the Left Bank of River Indus., which then connects Multan to Khanewal and eventually Lahore at M-4.
Up-gradation of D.I Khan N-50:
The up gradation of D.I Khan N-50 focuses on the western alignment portion of the economic corridor. This routes the transportation of Peshawar and Baluchistan through Hakla (near Fatah Jang). The estimated cost to finish this project is around US$ 195 million covering a complete length of 210Km, which initially connects the transports to the Peshawar-Karachi Motorway. Currently, Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved the PC-1 and therefore the framework agreement has been forwarded to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC), consequently land acquisition is under process but still many roles are created under this project.
Faisalabad-Multan Motorway:
The motorway constructed under this project is funded by the ADB Bank, and is split into two sections altogether from Gojra to Shorkot. The primary section covers the space of 32Km while the opposite only 30km. The project is under construction and is predicted to end until March, 2018 with the assistance of two contractors Xinjian Beixin and China Railway Group. Figure 4 specifies the world covered under this project.
KKH Thakot-Raikot N35:
This project is additionally of great importance because it starts from the Gilgit Baltistan Karakoram Highway till the Thakot interchange for connecting the upper region towards the western alignment of the road. This highway covers a distance of 136Km and therefore the estimated investment to finalize the project is quite US$ 700 million. Currently the feasibility and therefore the PC-1 has been approved, moreover the report has been forwarded to the Chinese officials to initiate the project.
