By Abdul Ghani

More than 24 kilometres of the 54-kilometre Nagor Sharif-Suntsar blacktop road in Balochistan has opened for traffic, with work on the remaining section underway through an Oman-funded infrastructure project, according to documents available with Wealth Pakistan.

The project is being executed by the Project Management Unit (PMU) of the Balochistan Planning and Development Department.

The road is expected to improve connectivity in remote areas of the province and facilitate movement of people, goods and essential services.

The project experienced significant delays due to security-related challenges. The authorities identified the law-and-order situation as the principal cause of the prolonged delay, with procurement, legal and accessibility issues also affecting implementation.

The construction was halted in 2012 after militants carried out two separate attacks on the contractor's camp, destroying construction machinery deployed on both sections of the project. The incidents halted development work, delaying completion for several years.

Despite these setbacks, the provincial government has resumed construction and is moving ahead with the remaining work. The revised project schedule sets December 31, 2026 as the expected completion date.

Once completed, the 54-kilometre road will strengthen regional connectivity, improve access to underserved communities and support economic activity by reducing travel time and enhancing transport links in the area.

The project is among the key development initiatives being implemented with international financial support to improve infrastructure and promote balanced regional development in Balochistan.

Credit: INP-WealthPk