ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan said the completion of the Pakistan Expressway in Balochistan will be a “major breakthrough” for the province’s transport development.
He made the remarks on Thursday during a high-level meeting of the National Highway Authority (NHA). The meeting assessed the 800-kilometre Pakistan Expressway and reviewed security and other matters related to road construction in Balochistan.
NHA Chairman and senior officials briefed Aleem Khan on ongoing projects across the province. He said Prime Minister had approved the construction of the Karachi–Quetta–Chaman Highway (N-25) earlier this year.
Aleem Khan noted that work is continuing on the Khuzdar–Mastung section. He stressed that highways in Balochistan hold great significance for regional connectivity and development.
The meeting also covered roads in Gwadar, Khapro, the Coastal Highway, and other key routes. Aleem Khan directed that all remaining road projects in Balochistan be completed without delay.
Earlier, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the construction of a 103-kilometer road from Zhob to Mukhtar Barsta Murgha Kabza and a 105-kilometer road from Duki to Chamalang, along with the revised Balochistan Livelihood and Internship Project.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar chaired the meeting through a video link. Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, ECNEC members, and Balochistan’s Provincial Minister for Irrigation Mir Muhammad Sadiq Umrani also attended.
The participants reviewed the progress, expenditures, and challenges of various new and ongoing national-level projects in the federally administered provinces.
