Lowari Tunnel
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The Lowari Tunnel is an 8.6km (5.3 mi.) long road tunnel located in the NWFP province of Pakistan.
The planned tunnel, which will cut through the Lowari Pass, was originally conceived in the 1970s. Work on the tunnel originally began in 1974. However, then-president Zia-ul-Haq stopped construction due to political reasons. As of September 2005 the tunnel work has restarted. On July 8th 2006, President Pervez Musharraf officially inaugurated the Lowari Tunnel, the completion of which is expected in 2008.
The tunnel will reportedly reduce the currently 14-hour drive from Chitral to Peshawar by half. Moreover, people of Chitral have to travel from Afghanistan and then enter back in Pakistan during the winter season as Lowari top is closed for any traffic for most part of the year. Chitral remains virtually inaccessible in the winter, the tunnel will also facilitate all-weather transportation. Some Chitrali natives are concerned about the impact the potentially increased tourism will have on the region.
A South Korean construction company, SAMBU has been assigned the work on the tunnel. It is expected to be completed sometime in the year 2008 at a cost of Rs.8 billion ($133 million US). Currently the work progress is being looked after by GM NHA, Mr. Salman Rashid. Salman Rashid is a retired Lt. Col. of Pakistan Army, he belonged to the corp of Engineers. He had been a part of various construction projects all over Pakistan.
External Links
Lowari tunnel work in full swing
