The Federal State Minister for Communications, Imitaz Safdar Warriach has expressed his displeasure over slow progress on bridge work located on Gilgit-Skardu road and has asked the National Highway Authority to accelerate the pace of work on the project. He issued these instructions during a high level presentation today in the Ministry of Communications where senior officials from NHA apprised the Minister about state of work on different construction projects. The Minister was informed that work on five bridges on Glgit-Skardu road was awarded to a Chinese firm that started work on the project in 2004. The Minister was told that Rs. 291 million project consisted of replacing the existing temporary bridges with new and permanent structures. The project was divided into two packages and was originally meant to complete by June 2009. However, only thirty percent work on the project could have been completed by now and the contractor had asked for an extension of one year to complete the remaining works. The Minister was informed that increases in prices of construction material and law and order situation were the main factors causing delay in the project. The Minister observed that extraordinary delay in the project was unjustified. He said that Gilgit-Skardu road was very important from strategic point of view and formed a vital link with the rest of the country. He said that timely completion of the project must remain a top priority of NHA. The Minister also convened an urgent meeting with the foreign contractors in order to sort out issues causing hindrance in the execution of work.