FWO’s Newsletter for the last quarter of 2003 is here. During this quarter, FWO has completed Ghizer Valley Road Project. If we recapitulate, during this year FWO completed construction of mega projects of extreme national importance like Liari-Ormara section of Makran Coastal Highway, Indus Link 2 and 3, Dera Allahyar Nuttal Road, Rahim Yar Khan Tiranda Mohammad Panah and Skardu-Deosai Chilum Chowki Road projects. Due to FWO’s commitment of continued endeavour to achieve excellence, these projects have brought not only revolutionary changes but have also given boost to the economy of country. Moreover these projects will have a profound and long lasting effect on prosperity of Pakistan in general and the region in particular.

FWO acknowledges the sincere efforts of all its officers and men, who have added new dimensions to its achievements. FWO remembers a brave son Sub Muhammad Feroze who embraced shahadat on 16 Dec 2003 while working on slide clearance operation on KKH.
May Allah give us strength and tenacious perseverance to continue to serve the cause and add to the good name of Pakistan Army, Corps of Engineers, and FWO. Ameen.

Editor

The work on Liari – Ormara Section commenced in July 2000 after its ground breaking ceremony performed by the President of Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf. The length of this road is 243 KM including 27 bridges, 732 culverts and 330 M causeway. All these works have been completed with a cost of Rupees 3.906 Billion in June 2003. Later, work on double surface treatment shoulders, having 3 M width on either side was entrusted to FWO. The same is in progress and will be completed before due date.

The work on Pasni-Gwadar is progressing well and is expected to be completed in Feb 2004. The completion of this road will bring an era of economic development in the region.

This work was entrusted to FWO at a cost of Rupees 2.888 Billion. Asphalt work on entire length of 132.7 has been completed. Work on few bridges is still in progress and will be completed within scheduled time.

The work on this mega project worth Rupees 4.892 Billion started on 11 May 2002 in the heart of Karachi city to facilitate smooth flow of traffic, linking Karachi Port with Super Highway on both sides of Lyari River, having a length of 32.155 KM. The size and stretch of the project adds further to the complexities of the construction efforts. Despite all these hindrances and frictions, FWO is working at an adequate pace. So far 8.30 Km length has been handed over to FWO for execution. The progress is effected because of the delay in handing over of remaining site, and other impediments like encroachments and rehabilitation of affected people by concerned agencies. A total of 4.10 KM embankment, 3.20 KM sub base, aggregate base and asphaltic base have been completed. One bridge out of 16 bridges has been completed and work on 15 overhead bridges is in progress. 13 box culverts out of 56 and 5 pipe culverts out of 43 have been completed. Work on Sohrab Goth, Manghopir, Sir Shah Suleman and Maripur interchanges is progressing well.

FWO was assigned the task for const of three Northern Area Roads to be completed in 24 working months. The gr breaking ceremony of these projs was performed by President of Pakistan General Pervez Musharaf on 29 Aug 2001. FWO undertook this challenging task and completed 100% work on Skardu Deosai Chilum Chowki Road of 85 KM length. Pavement work of Ghizer Valley Road having length of 188 KM has been completed 100%, except few retaining structures.

The work on Thalichi – Chilum Chowki Rd was hampered by earthquakes, floods, heavy rains and snowfall. However FWO still managed to complete 83% of work and remaining will be undertaken in working season of 2004.

The Karakoram Highway was constructed in 1978 from Havelian to Khunjerab. The KKH constantly experiences landslides, mudflows, earthquakes, avalanches and flash floods which damage the road. To keep the road open under such condition throughout the year, entails a Herculean effort by FWO.

During this quarter 82114 cum slides/mudflow was cleared, 50167 RM of shoulders repaired, 34269 RM choked drains were opened and 247 choked culverts were cleaned.

This project consists of construction of 64 KM long dual carriageway at an estimated cost of Rupees 3.263 Billion.

This road is an important artery linking north with south where bulk volume of traffic keeps moving in either direction. The project consists of 0.6 M wide median, 4 Bridges, 117 Culverts and 7.6M wide road way. Work on the 64 Km long dual carriageway was completed during Mar 2003. The work on rehabilitation of additional 16 km length of existing carriageway awarded by NHA at a cost of Rs 256.77 million is progressing well and expected to be completed by April 2004.

• DG FWO visited FWO Primary school, 803 Combined workshop and ES&OD during the month of November. He visited the classrooms and appreciated the standard of education.
  DG was briefed about the quality of work being executed by CO 803 workshop.
  DG was also shown the equipment and machinery during his visit.
• DG FWO Maj Gen Shahid Niaz visited FWO Museum on 13 December 2003 and was briefed about the progress of work by Lt Col (Retd) Manzoor Hussain.

• During this quarter two senior officers of HQ FWO Col Ejaz Ahmed Qureshi, who was performing the durites of Director Finance and Col Syed Muhammad Javed who was performing the duties of Deputy Director EME proceeded on retirement on 24 October 2003.
• Lt. Col Nafees Ahmed who was performing his duties as GSO-I Plan was posted out from HQ FWO on 24 October 2003.
• Lt Col Shahruq Akhtar Siddiqui, CO 803 Combined Workshop left FWO on 24 December 2003.
• Lt Col Waheed Ahmed Kamran, CO ES&OD, left FWO on 24 December 2003.