ISLAMABAD: Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan has announced the construction of the Mansehra to Chilas Motorway to facilitate commuters and provide them a safe alternative route to the Karakoram Highway.
He announced while presiding over a high-level meeting of the National Highway Authority (NHA) in Islamabad today.
The meeting approved the modernisation of the country’s communication network. It was briefed in the meeting that the total length of the new Mansehra – Chilas Motorway will be one hundred seventy-two kilometres, while it will pass through Kaghan, Naran, and Jhal Khand areas.
Due to this strategic alternative route, the travel distance on the Karakoram Highway will be reduced by up to one hundred-twenty kilometres.
Speaking on the occasion, Abdul Aleem Khan said this project will be completed in two phases. In the first phase, the Motorway will be built from Mansehra to Kaghan, Naran, and Babusar Top, while in the second phase, the project will be completed from Babusar Top to Chilas.
He said a major highlight of the project is the construction of the 13.5-kilometre-long Babusar Tunnel, which will be the longest tunnel in Pakistan.
The Minister for Communication said the four-lane Motorway will have the capacity to be expanded to six lanes, while modern rest areas will also be built every 25 to 30 kilometres for commuters, and specialised trucking terminals for goods transport will be established on both sides of the motorway.
Highlighting the economic significance of the project, Abdul Aleem Khan said this new motorway will be directly linked with China, connecting Western China to the ports of Karachi and Gwadar. He said it will serve as the fastest, shortest, and most cost-effective route from the Arabian Sea to Western China, reducing transit times and expenditures
Secretary of Communications and the Chairman of the National Highway Authority were also present during the meeting.
