Makran Coastal Highway, which was damaged due to heavy flooding

ISLAMABAD (Agencies) – The port city of Gwadar is still cut off from rest of the country, as the Makran Coastal Highway, which was damaged due to heavy flooding, could not have been reopened as yet.

Although the rain spell ended on Sunday thousands of people in Gwadar town and many surrounding villages including Phelri, Nagor Sharif, Pushkan, Chit Kalmati and Faqir Colony are waiting for aid, as rainwater has not been drained as yet.

The district administration with the cooperation of Pakistan Navy, Coast Guards and FC has started construction work at the various routes leading into Gwadar. The power supply resumed in the district but there was no electricity in Pasni for the second consecutive day.

Meanwhile, Chairman National Highway Authority (NHA) Altaf Ahmed Chaudhry Monday informed the Senate Standing Committee on Communications that the recent cyclone affected section of the Makran Coastal Highway would be re-opened within four to five days after the necessary maintenance work. He said the cyclone had damaged the Gwadar-Pleri-Jeewani section from two points for which the repair work was in full swing.

The committee meeting chaired by Senator Zahid Khan was also attended by Dr Muhammad Ismail Buledi and Salahuddin Dogar.
The NHA Chairman claimed that most parts of the coastal highway remained safe despite the heavy rain just because of the quality of construction work, adding that the two parts stretching 200 to 300 metres were affected after the release of water from Akhorri Dam’s spillways, while 10 to 12 km road were damaged by the rainwater.( Baloch Warana News)