Pre-feasibility study being undertaken by ILF Consulting Engineers for construction of single track railway line along the Karakorum highway between the end of the existing railway network in the south at Havelian and the border between Pakistan and China near the famous Khunjrab Pass in the north. The 682 km-long alignment includes more than 100 tunnels with a total length of 200 km, the majority with less than 5 km length. The longest tunnel is approximately 24 km and will be constructed at the border between Pakistan and China under the Mintaka Pass. Visit www.ilf.com or contact stephan.tischler@ilf.com 47/08.

Pakistan's federal government approved the 969 MW Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project at a cost of PKR128.4 billion in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. The project will be built by a consortium consisting of China Gezhouba Group Corp. (CGGC) and CMEC China. The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) had already approved award of the contract to the CGGC-CMEC joint venture in March 2007 at the contract price of PKR90.9 billion. The project will also be executed through Neelum-Jhelum Project Co., a government-owned unit, which has since been set up and the debt ratio of the project will be around 50/50. The project envisages the diversion of the Neelum river at Nosairi in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, through a 32.5 km headrace tunnel to a power station. Three tunnels would be built under the project design: the first two would be 15 km long and 40 square metres and the second would be 17 km long and 80 square metres. The project will be completed in eight years. Read E-News Weekly 2/2006. Visit www.gzbgj.com/english/index.asp and www.cmec.com 52/07-01/08.The joint venture Neelum-Jhelum Consultants led by MWH and consisting of MWH, Pakistani firms Nespak, ACE and NDC, and Norwegian firm Norplan has been selected by the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) to provide design, construction drawing preparation and construction management services for the Neelum-Jhelum hydroelectric project. The contract is worth PKR4.1 billion and covers a period of eight years. The project, expected to cost approximately PKR130 billion to build, will include a concrete gravity diversion dam, a headrace tunnel, a surge chamber and an underground powerhouse that will have four turbine-generating units. The total length of headrace tunnel is 28.5 km. A 15.1 km stretch of the tunnel from the Nauseri will be constructed as a twin tunnel system each with a cross-section of 42 square metres. The remaining headrace tunnel down to the surge chamber will be a single tunnel having a cross-section of 82 square metres. The tunnels are shotcrete lined with a concrete invert. The tunnel crosses the Jhelum river approximately 380 m below its bed. The tunnel will be accessed by seven adits for removal of excavated spoil. The surge chamber consists of a 340 m-high riser shaft. A 820 m-long surge tunnel, four steel-lined penstock tunnels, 150 m long and having 3.8 m internal diameter will also be constructed. The underground power station will house four units with a total capacity of 969 MW. Located in the Muzaffarabad district in the state of Azad Jammu Kashmir, approximately 138 km from Islamabad, the Neelum-Jhelum project is one of several major projects planned to increase Pakistan's hydroelectric generation capabilities to meet the growing energy needs of the country. Click pk/21. Visit www.wapda.gov.pk, www.mwhglobal.com, www.nespak.com.pk and www.norplan.com 25/08.

Rs7.6 billion 81 MW Malakand III hydro power project involves construction of five 5.5 m-diameter tunnels, lengths of 550, 350, 1,750, 275 and 200 metres. Tunnel rock blasting 117,500 cu m, shotcreting 17,000 sq m, 300 mm-thick concrete lining 15,000 cu m. Project developed by Sarhad Hydel Development Organization (Shydo). Bids in evaluation stage. Successful contractor to be announced by the end of October 2002. E-mail Muhammad Javed, Proposals Engineer, mmjaved71@hotmail.com. Construction lead times of three years. All the five tunnels should be completed in 28 months. 22/02.

Dh202 million loan granted by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) for the Duber Khwar project. Includes a 5 km tunnel to transfer water to a power house from the intake on the Duber Khwar river. 48/01.

North West Frontier government investigating feasibility of light rail mass transit system for provincial capital Peshawar which may include underground sections. Sept 1999.

National Highway Authority has invited BOT proposals to build Lakpass tunnel about 25 km from Quetta on Karachi road. Project offered to private sector on design, construction, operation and maintenance basis for a start in 2000. Sept 1999.

$100 million estimated value. Groundbreaking for three-year project in northwest frontier province as part of Indus Highway from Peshawar to Karachi. 1.9 km tunnel with 28 km of access roads bypassing Kohat city in the south and Darra Adam Khel in the north. August 1999.   Letter of acceptance received by contractors Taisei of Japan on June 11th, 1999. Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund of Japan has funded this project, designed by Pacific Consultant International of Japan and Mouchel of UK, who will carry on to supervise construction. Sept 1999.   Mouchel reports start of construction work by Taisei Corporation on 1.885 km-long tunnel utilising $49 million loan from OECF of Japan. More information from www.mouchel.com November 1999.   The Rawalpindi Bench of Lahore High Court (LHC) on 25th November, 1999 suspended Taisei Corporation’s contract to construct the Kohat tunnel on the grounds that the contractor does not have a working license for Pakistan. The petition was brought by the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) who also challenged both the award of the contract to Taisei and the prequalification of the company. December 1999.   Pacific Consultants International reports 70% of excavation of 1.885 km-long Kohat tunnel and construction of 50% of 30 km access roads completed. Excavation from Darra Adam Khel portal to commence this week for completion end-2001. Visit www.taisei.com 24/01.   Taisei International reports 1.3 km of total 1.89 km of mining complete and 800 m shotcrete lining complete. Tunnelling from Darra Adamkel portal commenced June, with 15 m completed. Visit www.taisei.com 30/01.   JBIC will loan Y4,032 million this fiscal year through ODA to help fund second phase of construction. Repayments over 30 years, with 10 years grace, and 1.8% interest. 2 km-long concrete drains are being installed on both sides of the tunnel to the south portal to cope with up to 2,500 lit/min water ingress. 1.4 km of the tunnel is complete, with 3.4 m/day advance on south face and 0.5 m/day on north face. Breakthrough expected January, 2002. Visit www.taisei.com 36/01.  Work has been stopped at the Rs7 billion 1,885 m-long Kohat tunnel after Japanese contrator Taisei decided to go back in the wake of US air strikes against Afghanistan. To date, some 1,300 metres have been tunnelled from the south side, and sixteen metres from the north one while 750 metres have been lined with concrete. Initially, completion was scheduled by February, 2002, and commissioning by mid-2003. Design and construction supervision by Mouchel. Kohat will be the longest road tunnel in Pakistan. 46/01.

Proposed 8.5 km tunnel to improve route between Dir and Chitral which is currently impassable for six months of the year. Sweden has provided $2.4 million for detailed engineering design. Previous tunnel attempt 30 years ago collapsed under construction following water inflow. March 1997.   Sweden and Japan have expressed interest in financing and execution of the project. Feasibility study and design review by Sweco International at a cost of US$1.5 million. Visit www.sweco.se 18/02.   Notice for prequalification of contractors for construction of the 8.5 km Lowari tunnel and its north and south approaches, 40 km altogether. NATM support with TBM or any other suitable method of construction. Work start in mid-year. Construction to last four years. Total cost around Rs6 billion ($130 million). Deadline for submission 1st February, 2003. The prequalification questionnaire can be purchased from 7th to 15th January, 2003 from General Manager (C&S), National Highway Authority, Ministry of Communications, 27 Mauve Area, G-9/1, PO Box 1205, Islamabad. Tel. +92 51 9260565, fax +92 51 9260419, e-mail nhacb@yahoo.com. Visit www.nha.gov.pk 02/03.  The National Highway Authority (NHA) has awarded to Geoconsult (Austria), Typsa (Spain), ECIL (Pakistan) and Loya & EMP (Pakistan) a Rs280 million contract to review the feasibility study of the proposed 8.5 km Lowari tunnel project, located at a height of 3,200 m above sea level. The project cost totals around Rs6 billion ($130 million). Visit www.geoconsult.at 26/03.The National Highway Authority (NHA) signed a Rs8 billion contract with Korean company Sambu for the construction of the much-awaited 8.8 km-long 7.55 m-wide 7.15 m-high Lowari tunnel. The tunnel will connect Chitral valley and other parts of the country through the 3,110 m Lowari Pass between Dir and Mirkhani in Chitral. The first feasibility of the tunnel was carried out in 1955 while work on the project was started in 1975 by the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO). But the project went into trouble and ultimately work was abandoned. Work on the project was restarted in 1995 but could not be continued. The project will be completed in three years. Visit www.sambu.co.kr and www.nha.gov.pk 40/05.

$600 million project delayed by government due to non-allocation of funds. Indus Mass Transport Corporation (IMTC), a jv of SNC-Lavalin, STFA and Adcon, is a party to the design/build/operate agreement to construct a light-rail system from Mereweather Tower to Sohrab Goth. Canadian government asked for two-year postponement last year. Visit www.snc-lavalin.com 05/01.

1,500MW project by Ministry of Water and Power on Indus river upstream from Gilgit river involving 8km tunnel awaiting funds. Dec 1998.