Work on key road resumes; hospital opens

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Pakistan’s Finance Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and his Afghan counterpart Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal on Sunday inaugurated resumption of work on the Torkham-Jalalabad dual carriageway.

They also inaugurated a Pakistan-funded kidney hospital in the eastern Nangarhar province. The provincial governor, senior officials and local elders attended the inauguration ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, Zakhilwal said work on the dual carriageway had been halted because of some hurdles, which had been addressed. He said 70 percent work had been done and the Pakistani government would ensure the early completion of the road.

“The construction work on the carriageway, 70 kilometres long and 13 metres broad, will be started in near future,” he added.

A 60-bed kidney hospital in Jalalabad was also inaugurated. It will be supplied with relevant equipment soon. The hospital, he said, would have all advanced facilities for kidney patients.

Dar said Pakistan had allocated funds for the construction of the dual Torkham-Jalalabad carriageway. “Our prime minister wants good neighbourly ties with Afghanistan,” he remarked.

Technical and non-technical issues had been finalised with a private company, he said, adding that construction work on the road would begin soon.

He said the kidney hospital in Jalalabad would be provided with all needed equipment and facilities. “We have also concluded an agreement with Afghanistan on the construction of a dam on the Kunar River,” he added.

Nangarhar Governor Attaullah Ludin, meanwhile, welcomed the inauguration of the carriageway and the kidney hospital, hoping the projects would enhance residents’ facilities.

rm/mud

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