South Wazirstan, 2 June 2012 (WAM) - Following inauguration of the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan bridge over the Swat river in Pakistan, the people of South Wazirstan have another reason to cheer about.

Apart from enabling easy and quick crossing between the river's two banks, the bridge also helped improve living standards in the area. Under the directives of the UAE leadership, the contractors of the bridge project were required to hire members of the local communities in the region.

Members of the local community in Pakistan's South Wazirstan have expressed their gratitude to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan for ordering construction of the bridge and for providing job opportunities in the project to the local population.

The bridge is one of the most important and essential bridges in Khyber Pukhtoon Khwa province. It is also regarded one of main crossing point for people of the area and a central connection to the main road in the province. It also serves a population of arounf 70,000 and its length is 330 meters with 6 meters height. Its capacity is more than 5,000 vehicles daily.

WAM/MAB