Pakistan: A new Dh38.6 million state-of-the-art bridge built and funded by the UAE to connect 15 towns and 45 villages of Swat Valley in Pakistan is now open for traffic.
According to directives by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to help Pakistan through humanitarian and development projects, the Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Bridge on River Swat on Friday was inaugurated by Eisa Abdullah Al Basha Al Nuaimi, the UAE Ambassador to Pakistan, in the presence of Pakistan’s Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, and Director of UAE Project to Assist Pakistan (PAP),Abdullah Khalifa Al Gafli.
They were joined by tribal dignitaries, senior UAE and Pakistani government officials and other senior Pakistani officers.
The UAE-funded bridge is 448 metres long, 10.7 metres wide and 10 metres high and will serve around 500,000 people in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province north-west of Pakistan which was severely affected by flooding in August last year.
The new bridge will serve 4,000 cars per day on two reserved lanes as well as pedestrians on two others.
“No doubt the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Islamic Republic of Pakistan maintain special relations based on the spirit of fraternity, solidarity, mutual respect and shared vision between the two brotherly leaderships and people. The inauguration of this vital bridge is a fruition of a longstanding history of close ties, cooperation and solidarity between leaders and people of the UAE and their brothers in Pakistan,” Ambassador Al Nuaimi said in a speech at the inauguration ceremony.
“We are privileged and honoured to share with you today this historic occasion, the inauguration of the Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Bridge. The project delivers a practical achievement of the directives and initiatives given by Shaikh Khalifa, to extend development aid and humanitarian assistance to the friendly Pakistani people. The project comes within Shaikh Khalifa’s developmental and humanitarian initiatives to different peoples of the world,” the ambassador added.
The vital bridge was named after Shaikh Zayed in tribute and memory of the late UAE founding father and leader for his generous developmental and humanitarian assistance over the years to the people of Pakistan, he said.
The collapse of the bridge on the Swat River due to massive floods has isolated villagers living on both banks of the river and the reconstruction of the bridge, the largest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, brings life to those populations as it provides them with easy access to the main road network. The bridge was built in accordance with best international technical and engineering specifications, standards and practices. Contractors have adopted world-class safety systems against floods and earthquake hazards by building a 1,300 metre long breakwater. Special formula of reinforced concrete was used in the construction of the bridge to resist the effects of erosion, decaying and humidity. A novel solar system was also installed to light up the bridge. The design also envisages a pedestrian walkway parallel to the vehicular lane.
Today the Shaikh Zayed Bridge stands as a new architectural landmark at the heart of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and forms a key artery in the main road network. With its eye-catching aesthetic design, the structure is expected to be a tourist destination.
The entrance of the bridge was adorned with a model of the Al Jahili Fort, the UAE’s historic landmark and childhood place and cradle of leadership of the late Shaikh Zayed.
Al Gafli said the UAE Project to Assist Pakistan (PAP) could not have made this significant success in implementing the UAE President’s developmental and humanitarian initiatives in Pakistan without the unequivocal support and close follow up from the UAE political leadership. “In this respect, we extend our profound thanks and gratitude to the UAE President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whose sound directives and continuous encouragement have provided the keys to PAP’s success.”
He commended the Khalifa Bin Zayed Foundation for funding road and bridge projects being carried out by PAP. He also expressed gratitude to all the stakeholders in the project such as Pakistan’s Army Corps of Engineers, the National Engineering Services Pakistan, and the Emirati team of engineers and supervisors.
