Manend Team 
Mananed News (Malakand) Korean Visit Malakand Tunnel via Copter.
It is remided that government has decided to approach Korean ambassador with the request of additional financing of $85 million for Malakand Tunnel project, as its cost has increased from $78 million to $163 million.
Due to additional tube, the cost of Malakand Tunnel project has been increased from $78 million to $163 million and the project would require additional funds of $85 million. This was revealed to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Communications which met here with Muhammad Muzammil Qureshi in the chair on Tuesday.
The committee was informed that original PC-1 amounting to Rs 9.043 billion as a phase-1 for construction of single tube tunnel was approved by the ECNEC on 26-05-2011 and the agreement with Korean Exim Bank was signed for $78 million (Rs 7.44 billion) in December 2012.
M/s Yooshin Engineering Corporation in association with M/s Dongsung Engineering Corporation of Korea submitted detailed design of the project in January 2017 to the NHA.
The Korean consultant based on latest traffic estimates recommended that at present two tubes tunnel would be required at Malakand Pass.
Based on two tubes concept, the revised PC-I of the project at a cost of Rs 16.544 billion including FED at estimated cost of Rs 14.11 billion has been approved by ECNEC in its meeting held on November 24, 2017. Ministry of Communications conducted a meeting on 25th January, 2018 to explore the way forward for financing of the project. During the meeting it was decided that Ministry of Communications would approach Korean ambassador with the request of additional financing for the project. Detailed design of Malakand Tunnel project is complete. Construction period is 42 months. The government has earmarked Rs 300 million in PSDP 2017-18 for Malakand Tunnel project.
Pakistan and the Exim Bank of Korea have signed a loan agreement of $93.779 million for 48-km Kalkatak-Chitral Road section (N-45). The NHA chairman informed the committee that Chakdara-Kalam Road, 82-km, will be completed in next two years with an estimated cost of Rs 2.9 billion.
The committee was further informed that Indus Highway will be completely dualized by 2023 and Kohat Tunnel will be constructed by a Japanese company. Some part of Indus Highway will be made four lanes from Dera Ghazi Khan towards Karachi side up to about 300-km.
The standing committee was told that Kohat Tunnel was, for the first time, constructed by a Japanese company. Now it is again the wish of National Highways Authority (NHA) to get the tunnel constructed by the Japanese company.
The standing committee asked about the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) which was approved by the standing committee in February 2018. The NHA authorities informed that the PSDP has been submitted to the Prime Minister for its approval. Thereafter, further necessary action will be taken. It is hoped that PSDP would be approved in about two days.
The Standing Committee was informed that Karachi Northern Bypass has been included in the PSDP of 2018-19 and the work on the project would be started in near future.
The meeting was presided over by Chairman Standing Committee of National Assembly on Communications Muhammad Muzammil Qureshi and attended by MNAs Muhammad Iqbal Shah, Sarzameen, Muhammad Riaz Malik, MaizaHameed, Dr Darshan, Nazir Ahmed Bughio, Salim Rehman, Engr Hamid-ul-Haq Khalil, Sanjay Parwani, Maulana Qamar-ud-Din, Naseema Hafeez Panezai and Engr Usman Khan Tarakai. Moreover, secretary communications, chairman National Highway Authority (NHA) and several senior civil officers attended the meeting.
