Pakistan and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank signed a $320 million loan agreement for the reconstruction and improvement of critical sections of the N-5 highway — the country’s longest national highway from Karachi to Torkham near the Afghan border.   The project will cover critical sections of the N-5, which traverses Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, serving as a backbone of Pakistan’s transport network.    A separate project agreement was also signed between the AIIB and the National Highway Authority (NHA).Pakistan has appreciated its longstanding partnership with the AIIB, which has consistently supported the country’s development sector, the economic affairs minister said.  The N-5 corridor holds immense importance as it connects key regions of Pakistan, enhancing regional connectivity, strengthening sustainable infrastructure, and supporting economic growth across the country, he said.   The agreement follows a number of  AIIB investments in Pakistan.  In recent weeks, Pakistan issued its inaugural Panda bond in China’s onshore capital market  raising $250 million with the support  of  AIIB and Asian Development Bank.  (ICE ISLAMABAD)

Fonte notizia: dawn