Nazia Nazar
Frontier Works Organization (FWO), today’s most versatile and vibrant construction firm, was established on 31 October 1966 to carve out a modern highway, the Karakoram Highway (KKH), across crags and crevices of the highest mountain ranges of the world. It was towards the completion stage of KKH that the government analyzed the tremendous potential of FWO in carrying out civil engineering projects in difficult and inhospitable areas. It was in this backdrop that the government decided not only to keep FWO in existence, but also to expand its functions throughout the country. During the last 50 years the FWO has contributed to bringing prosperity to backward and neglected areas of Pakistan, which includes development of communication infrastructure like construction of roads, railway lines and air fields, irrigation-related projects like construction of dams, canals and barrages; power projects like thermal, hydal, tunneling and mining etc.
Since the launching of CPEC, Balochistan has seen unprecedented development of communication infrastructure. Over the past two years, FWO has constructed 675 kms of roads, while by the end of this year a total of 870 kms of road infrastructure will be completed. FWO has a major role in realization of CPEC, and the work has already begun on the proposed M-9 project and negotiations are underway to shift service stations to alternate locations. The state-of-the-art CCTV cameras would be installed after every two kilometers on the proposed route of M-9 while the signboards alongside the motorway will be computerized and there will be an automated system for collection of toll tax. A total of 14 overhead bridges and underpasses will be constructed on the proposed route of M-9 for facilitating movement of population living on either side of the road.
In 1991, FWO was called upon to participate in the reconstruction phase of Kuwait after the Gulf war, and given to clear 3000 square kilometers of highly mined area, littered with large quantity of ammunition left behind by the withdrawing Iraqi Army. FWO cleared the area in a record time of just 16 months, ahead of others construction firms of USA, UK, France, Egypt and Bangladesh. Similarly, in 2006, FWO constructed a road from Torkham to Jalalabad in the most hostile and diffcult security environment. With professionally qualified and competent staff, efficient work force and a large pool of modern construction equipment and machinery FWO is capable of undertaking any construction assignment at short notice anywhere in Pakistan or abroad. FWO has been working according to its motto “Striving for Excellence”, and its achievements speak of the continued efforts to deliver the best.
The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Frontier Works Organization (FWO) have agreed to jointly initiate the mega projects of the province in communication and energy production sectors under Public Private Partnership (PPP) policy of the present provincial government. This was agreed upon at a meeting of the Director General FWO, Major General, Muhammad Afzal with Chief Minister KPK Pervez Khattak. The CM had welcomed the offer made by FWO for executing the major infrastructure and energy projects and said that partnership between KP government and FWO will not only help improve quality of construction works but such venture would also ensure completion of the projects in much lesser time and at reduced cost. He told FWO that the provincial government will give top priority to the proposed Swat Motorway and hydro power projects, and expressed his intent to award execution contract of these projects to FWO.
It was decided during the meeting that a separate agreement between KP government and FWO would be finalized soon for handing over the rehabilitation and ADP schemes to FWO in the flood and earthquake-hit district of Chitral. Khattak on this occasion assured to extend cooperation of the provincial government for permanent rehabilitation of Mirkhani-Arandu road in Chitral, which will help boost tourism and mineral sectors besides providing better transport facilities to the commuters. The confidence of the federal and provincial government in the FWO’s working capacity and strong organization emanates from the fact that it has most competent engineers, planners and work force, which is selected on the basis of merit and merit alone. And of course, the organization has many prestigious projects to its credit. The organization had performed almost a miracle during construction of Karakorum Highway, and is ready to perform many more if given the opportunities.
