During the quarter, FWO entered into a new realm of project management and financing by signing an Agreement BOT-II with Government of Punjab, as lead partner in a consortium of companies LAFCO (Lahore Faisalabad Company). The project envisages construction of four-lane carriageway between Lahore Faisalabad on Built, Operate and Transfer basis.

This year marks silver jubilee of completion of Karakoram Highway (KKH). On the occasion a Chinese Central Television (CCTV) Team visited Pakistan to make a documentary on KKH. We expect the documentary to be completed within this year.

DG FWO Maj General Shahid Niaz signing BOT-II Concession Agreement of Lahore-Faisalabad project on behalf of FWO, Chief Minister Punjab Ch. Pervez Elahi was also present on the occasion.

There were some major changes at the command level in FWO. Three Group Commanders, after successfully completing their tenures with FWO, were posted out to shoulder new responsibilities. We wish new Commanders success in their Commands.

Living up to its traditions, FWO has successfully completed two important mega projects; Road Skardu-Sadpara-Deosai-Chilum Chowki in Northern Areas and Lyari-Ormara section of the Mekran Coastal Highway, ahead of the stipulated completion time. We congratulate FWO personnel who, through their hard inputs under inhospitable and demanding work environments of these remote regions, achieved new milestones for FWO. Besides, FWO achieved targets set out during this quarter on various other projects. May Allah give us the strength to continue with the same stride and live up to the expectations of the nation. Ameen.

Editor

The project with a revised cost of Rs. 834 Million was sponsored by Municipal Corporation Faisalabad. It was started in July 1999. Initially 25 Nos A Category and 17 Nos B category roads were included in the rehabilitation project measuring total of 68.3 km long roads. The project has been substantially completed by about 98 percent with balance work on foot paths and drains, which is in progress. The progress on the project was affected by the encroach-ment/impediments at the work site.

Improvement and Recarpeting of various Roads at Sialkot Cantt.
The project comprising of 4.9 Km roads, sponsored by Military Engineering Services, was undertaken in May 2003 at a cost of Rs 6.678 Million. The project consists of 5 road segments. Total progress achieved so far is 65 percent.

Widening and Improvement of Club & Aibek Roads at Sialkot Cantt.
This is a Cantonment Board Sialkot sponsored project. The total length of these roads is 1.37 kms including 0.55 kms length of Club Road and 0.83 kms Aibek Road. Work on these roads commenced in Sep 2003 and the progress achieved so far is 9 percent. The project will be completed in due course of time.

President Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Rawalpindi is the sponsor of this project. Work on the project was started in April 2003 at a cost of Rs 101.17 Million and is expected to be completed in March 2005. The project has total covered area of 1,11,500 square feet and includes 8 operation theatres and one hundred beds for the patients. The progress achieved on the project is 9.5 percent. President Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Lt Gen (Retd) Jehandad Khan alongwith DG FWO Maj Gen Shahid Niaz visited the project site on 16 Aug 2003, and were briefed about the progress on the project.

Construction of 162 Kms long road, connecting Mansehra with Jalkhad through Balakot, Kaghan and Naran, in Kaghan valley was commenced on July 1997. Scope of work was revised resulting in its completion date being extended upto December 2004. The revised cost of the project is Rs 4110.72 Million. The work progressed in full swing during this quarter, but was, however, affected due to heavy rains/slides clearance. Metalling of the road up to Naran has been completed including construction of 297 culverts and 2 Kms long causeways. DG FWO Maj Gen Shahid Niaz visited the Mansehra-Narran-Jalkhad project on 27 August 2003. During his visit DG FWO was briefed about the progress of work. DG FWO visited the work site and appreciated the quality of work Progress on the project achieved so far is as under: -

• Road from Kms 0-80 has been handed over to NHA.
• Road marking from Faridabad to Naran is in progress.
• Kerb stone painting in Kaghan and Naran Bazar is in progress.
• Asphaltic work has been started between Km 0 to Km 15 on Naran – Jalkhad section.

Karakoram Highway Maintenance
This is a National Highway Authority sponsored project. The progress of maintenance works during the year is as under: -

• Slides/mudflows clearance-11,162cum
• Shoulders repair - 4500 RM
• Clearance chocked drains - 715 RM

Skardu Road Maintenance
The routine maintenance work of Skardu road is in hand, besides repair of damaged portions of road resulting from rainfalls and emergent repairs of retaining wall is in progress.

Construction of three Northern Areas Roads was awarded to FWO by Northern Areas Public Works Department in 2001. The President of Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf performed the ground breaking ceremony of all three projects in August 2001. The region is dominated by the largest collection of highest mountains of the world. As such construction activity remains subjected to the torments of regions extreme climate and geology. Further, the working season is restricted to nine and lesser months depending upon the elevation of work area. Fighting against all these odds and impediments, FWO is working hard to complete these projects earlier than stipulated completion schedule. Completion of these roads will improve the standard of living of the people and enhance tourist inflow into the region.

D I Khan-Mughalkot Road

This project is a NHA sponsored project at an estimated cost of Rs 1.387 Billion. The project commenced in March 2000 and is expected to be completed by early 2004. Details of present progress on the project is as given below:-

Embankment
Completed - 116 kms

Pavement Structure
Sub base - 61 kms
Base - 92 kms
T.S.T - 90 kms

Structures
Bridges
Total - 11 Nos
Completed - 8 Nos
Under construction- 3 Nos

Culverts
Total - 321 Nos
Completed - 227 Nos

Construction of Dual Carriageway (N-5) - Rahim Yar Khan to Tiranda Mohammad Panah.

The project, at an estimated cost of Rs 3287.076 Million, was awarded to FWO by NHA. The construction work on the project, having 80 km road length with 7.6m wide dual carriageway, commenced simultaneously at six sites for achieving good pace of work. The project has been successfully completed in all respects. Besides road work it envisaged completion of 4 bridges and 117 culverts. The work on additional works is in progress and will be completed by end of this year.

Road Dera AllahYar - Nuttal (N-65)

The National Highway Authority sponsored project for improvement and rehabilitation of Dera Allah Yar – Nuttal Road started on 27 April 2000. The length of this road is 60 Kms which was later reduced by 5 Km. The cost of the project is Rs 729.861 Million, which includes construction of 5 bridges and 35 culverts of different sizes. The area is barren, sparsely populated with extreme weather conditions. Scarcity of construction material, restricted work site and hindrance in work at times due to continuous heavy traffic flow were the main impediments for slow progress, which was further hampered due to unprecedented heavy rainfall. Work also remained suspended due to redesigning of the road. However, FWO troops working hard gained substantial progress, recovering the lost time. The project is likely to be completed by the end of 2003. The present progress on the project is 82 percent.

This year marks silver jubilee of completion of Karakoram Highway (KKH). On the occassion of Chinese Central Television (CCTV) Team visited Pakistan tomake a documentary on KKH. Besides filming KKH, the team interviewed veteran Sappers and Chinese friends, who participated in the construction of the KKH. FWO extended fullest hospitality and technical support to the Team during their visits to the KKH, Rawalpindi and Lahore. The Team was more than appreciative of FWO's support. During their visit during their visits to HQ FWO on 9 September 2003 they met DG FWO and also visited FWO Museum. Later, they were introduced with other officers of HQ FWO.

Closing ceremonies of CMS Ser-II, Operator and Third Country Training Programme Ser - 9, Courses

The CMS serial - II and Operator courses terminated on 1 August 03. Fifteen and and thirty five students respectively participated in these courses and qualified. Director DMTI, awarded merit certificates to first three position holders of the courses and addressed the participants.

Third Country Traning Programme (TCTP) Course serial - 9 terminated on 19 Auguest 03. Twenty graduate engineers from different countries attended the course and qualified. Closing ceremony was attended by Mr. Hiroshi Azuma, Minister Embassy of Japan, Islamabad as chief guest. He awarded certificates to the participants. Other officials from Ministry of Communications, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and HQ FWO also attended the ceremony.