The National Highway Authority (NHA) during past three years has focused on revival of Gwadar connectivity and delayed Balochistan projects.

NHA spokesman Kashif Zaman told APP on Saturday that the NHA has completed three delayed projects in Balochistan proving connectivity to Gwadar port while the fourth was near completion. He said that the NHA spent Rs 18.6 billion on the completion of 449 km Basima-Nag-Panjgoor-Hoshab Highway (N-85). The work on the project started in 2007 but could not be completed in stipulated time and was completed in December 2016.

Balance work of 193 km Gwadar-Hoshab section of Rattodero-Gwadar Motorway (M-8) was completed in February 2016 at a cost of Rs 13 billion. The work on the project had started in 2004 and was to be completed in 2006. Its balance work was completed in February 2016.

He said that work on Khuzdar-Rattodero section of M-8 has started in 2004 and was supposed to be completed in 2009 but it could not be completed and the project lingered on. Its 58 km portion was completed in June last year and the remaining two packages of 85 km are nearing completion.

Work on 231 km Kalat-Quetta-Chaman started in 2006 and was to be completed in 2008 but the project was delayed. Recommencement of balance work through USAID was done in June 2014 and completed in June 2016 at a cost of Rs 6 billion.