ABU DHABI // A UAE-funded US$10.5 million (Dh38.5m) bridge linking 15 towns and 45 villages in Pakistan's Swat Valley has been inaugurated.
The Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Bridge is 448 metres long and will serve about 500,000 people in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province north-west of Pakistan which was severely affected by flooding in August last year.
The new crossing will carry 4,000 vehicles per day. It includes a solar-powered lighting system to illuminate the road and structure. The design also envisages a pedestrian walkway parallel to the road lanes.
The project comes under the directives of President Sheikh Khalifa to help Pakistan through humanitarian and development projects.
It was inaugurated on Friday by the UAE ambassador to Pakistan, Essa Abdullah Al Basha Al Nuaimi in the presence of Pakistan's Chief of the Army Staff, Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and other officials.
Mr Al Nuaimi said: "No doubt the Emirates 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 fruition of a long-standing history of close ties, cooperation and solidarity between leaders and people of the UAE and their brothers in Pakistan," he added.
The collapse of the previous bridge on the Swat River due to massive floods had isolated villagers on both banks, and the reconstruction of the spanwill help to rejuvenate the population.
The approach to the bridge features a model of the Al Jahli Fort, a UAE historic landmark and a childhood favourite place of the late Sheikh Zayed.
Today the bridge stands as an architectural landmark at the heart of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province and forms a key artery in the main road network. With its eye-catching design, the structure is expected to become a tourist attraction.
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Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
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