The Sukkur-Multan section of Peshawar-Karachi Motorway (PKM) project in Pakistan opened to traffic on Dec 16, after obtaining a formal take-over certificate (TOC), issued by the Pakistan National Highway Administration.

This is also the first complete, non-partial handover TOC, issued by the Pakistan National Highway Administration to a foreign contractor without any preconditions for deductions.

It is the largest transportation infrastructure project undertaken to date in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Sinohydro Bureau 7 Co, a subsidiary of POWERCHINA, was one of the key contractors of the PKM project.

One of the bridges of the in Peshawar-Karachi Motorway in Pakistan, built by Sinohydro Bureau 7 Co, a subsidiary of POWERCHINA. [Photo/POWERCHIMNA]

With a construction period of 36 months, the project broke ground on Aug 5, 2016. It has a total length of 392 kilometers, a design speed of 120 km per hour, a road width of 31.5 meters and six lanes in a two-way direction.

Sinohydro Bureau 7 Co undertook the construction of 117.8 km of the project, as well as 26 bridges, 177 passages, 320 culverts, five interchanges, two service areas, two rest areas, 10 toll stations and the installation of a green traffic and intelligent transportation system.

An aerial view of the service area along the Peshawar-Karachi Motorway in Pakistan. [Photo/POWERCHINA]

The project department provided nearly 20,000 jobs during the construction period in Pakistan and dispatched more than 200 survey workers, more than 100 formwork workers and more than 300 management personnel to the local area.

Due to its remote location, harsh weather conditions, lack of resources and security challenges, the project department improved its project execution procedures. It maintained good public relations and focused on the overall schedule requirements, providing technical reserves and resource guarantees, ensuring a high-quality performance.

On Nov 6, 2019, the project entered a three-year defect processing period.

The Sukkur-Multan section of Peshawar-Karachi Motorway in Pakistan opens to traffic on Dec 16. [Photo/POWERCHINA]

After being put into operation, the project will open up the north-south traffic arteries in Central Pakistan, improve local transport conditions and create a good traffic environment for the social and economic development of various places along the route.

It will also inject new vitality into the sustainable development of China and Pakistan under the Belt and Road Initiative.