Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan has announced the construction of the Mansehra–Chilas Motorway to provide commuters a safer and faster alternative to the Karakoram Highway.
He made the announcement while chairing a high-level meeting of the National Highway Authority (NHA) in Islamabad on Tuesday. The meeting approved plans to modernise the country’s road network.
Officials briefed the meeting that the new motorway will be 172 kilometres long and will pass through Kaghan, Naran and Jalkhad areas. They said the route will reduce travel distance on the Karakoram Highway by up to 120 kilometres.
Abdul Aleem Khan said the project will be completed in two phases. In the first phase, authorities will construct the road from Mansehra to Kaghan, Naran and Babusar Top. In the second phase, they will extend it from Babusar Top to Chilas.
He said the project’s key feature will be the 13.5-kilometre Babusar Tunnel, which will become the longest tunnel in Pakistan.
The minister added that the motorway will have four lanes with the capacity to expand to six lanes in the future. He said authorities will also build modern rest areas every 25 to 30 kilometres for travellers and set up dedicated trucking terminals on both sides for freight transport.
Abdul Aleem Khan said the project will strengthen regional trade links and improve connectivity with China. He said the route will connect western China with the ports of Karachi and Gwadar, making it a faster and more cost-effective trade corridor between the Arabian Sea and western China.
Senior officials from the Communications Ministry and the National Highway Authority attended the meeting.
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