- NHA ramps up repair and reconstruction of road, bridge, Abdul Aleem Khan assures CM Gandapur of all-out help
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan on Saturday held a telephonic conversation with Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Ali Amin Gandapur to discuss the recent situation arising from torrential rain-triggered flash floods in parts of the province that wrecked extensive damage to roads and bridges.
Abdul Aleem Khan expressed his deep sorrow and grief over the loss of precious lives and property in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said a press release of the ministry on Saturday.
He stated that the National Highway Authority (NHA) is fully mobilized and all its resources are available for the people of KP. He assured that immediate measures are being taken to alleviate the hardships of the masses.
The minister said that repair and reconstruction work on damaged roads and bridges had already begun round the clock, and wherever required, machinery and workforce from NHA Punjab and Sindh Offices are also being deployed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He assured the Chief Minister KP as per the requirements of the provincial government, NHA would be at its service. Moreover, the Federal Minister for Communications was briefed by the Federal Secretary Communications, currently in Gilgit-Baltistan, and by the Chairman NHA from KP.
They informed him that acting on the Minister’s directions, NHA teams had immediately commenced restoration work on Friday, as a result of which the Mansehra-Naran-Jhal Khund Road (MNJ) had been opened for traffic while road is also clear from Balakot to Babusar Top.
Minister Khan directed that NHA officers to remain in the field until the last road and bridge is restored, warning that no negligence will be tolerated. He expressed satisfaction over the prompt response of NHA in this difficult situation and instructed that the restoration operation should continue day and night with all available resources.
Five high-level operational teams were formed and work began immediately in the northern areas and KPK to restore roads, remove landslides and take other necessary measures, there.
In the report presented to the Federal Minister, the Chairman NHA noted that bridges on the Karakoram Highway and Jaglot-Skardu Road have collapsed and will take some time to reconnect; however, traffic has been restored from Balakot to Karlat, Kawai and Shogran where the Federal Secretary of Communications is personally supervising the restoration work.
