Ashrafuddin Pirzada
KHYBER: Deputy Commissioner of district Khyber Bilal Shahid Rao on Monday said that the implementation of the Khyber Pass Economic Corridor (KPEC) has begun with the financial support of the World Bank, which would not only create business opportunities but it would also provide jobs for thousands of citizens.
Deputy Commissioner Bilal Rao said that dollars 460 million loan for the project had been approved by the World Bank.
“The initiative includes the construction of a four-lane expressway from Peshawar to the Torkham border and the establishment of an industrial zone”, said the official. He added that a joint venture of the federal and provincial governments was underway aimed at enhancing regional connectivity through a major trade corridor.
He said the KPEC project, designed in 2024, has already entered the construction phase consisting of two main components including Infrastructure Development for which dollars 385 million has been allocated. He said dollars 75 million had been allocated for Industrial Development while dollars 75 million had been earmarked for industrial zones and sub-development projects.
Bilal Shahid Rao said that a 47-kilometer-long four-lane expressway was being built from Peshawar to the Torkham border, along with a 55-kilometer-long Peshawar Southern Bypass. He further mentioned that the expressway would be linked with the Peshawar Southern Bypass and Grand Trunk(GT) road to improve connectivity.
Rao said the second phase of the KPEC project included of the establishment of industrial zones in Jamrud (Shakas) and Bara with land already allocated by the provincial government. He said the project also involves several sub-development initiatives, such as infrastructure development in villages adjacent to the expressway.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Collector of Customs Khawaja Khurram Naeem told The News that the project would significantly boost international trade and create over 100,000 job opportunities. He also confirmed that the plan included the establishment of a border market to facilitate traders.
He said they have already been in contact with the Afghan interim government to construct a highway from Torkham to Kabul. He added that the project would be a game-changer for regional Trade.
Khawaja Khurram Naeem said the Khyber Pass Economic Corridor was expected to become a key trade route, providing a modern, high-quality passage for regional and international commerce. He said the project would further strengthen bilateral trade between Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asian countries and facilitate transit trade with Central Asian countries under various trade agreements.
He said they believe the project would significantly enhance Pakistan’s trade volume and contribute to economic growth, marking a major step toward transforming the country’s economic landscape.
