IT is being reported in the national media that Nato’s heavy trucks for its supply convoys to Afghanistan are causing serious damage to Pakistani roads, especially Karachi-Peshawar highway. Now we are negotiating re-opening the supply route.

It is also reported by the media that those countries which are interested in re-opening are convincing Pakistan that they would help in making the roads. Here we have a golden chance.

Since 1997, we are busy in constructing our motorways in Pakistan but in one and half decade we cover only Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Our myopic bureaucracy could not see that there are two more provinces.

But do we have some concrete for road infrastructure or we would as usual receive money, hire some politically-appointed contractors and waste the money in two to three years.

Our eastern neighbour has received $1 trillion for its road infrastructure for five years. They have completed two gigantic corridors; one East to West, which started from their Punjab to its western most state of Assam. The North-South corridor covers Ladakh to Kanya Kumari, the southern tip on Indian Ocean.

We must take a look at our faulty economic policies in the region. Our condition is like Rip Van Winkle who woke up from his two-decade slumber and found that everything was changed around him.

My wish is that US Corps of Engineers should be asked to build Karachi-Peshawar highway project. They built Kharian cantonment in 1954-58, the biggest garrison in Pakistan.

The big and positive change in the US came after its highway infrastructure was built.

Our eastern neighbour is following suit. Our media is only highlighting its military spending but not its economic evolution.

For a healthy competition and for our knowledge, our media should highlight what economic activities are taking place around us.

KUNWAR KHALID Karachi