ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while chairing a high-level meeting in Islamabad, approved the transformation of the 790-kilometer Karachi-to-Chaman National Highway (N-25) into a high-standard expressway.
The decision was made during a comprehensive review session focused on the highway’s construction and upgrade.
Addressing the participants, Prime Minister Sharif emphasized that the expressway must be built to motorway standards, calling the project vital for the socio-economic development and prosperity of Balochistan.
He revealed that instead of transferring the recent savings from petroleum price reductions to the public, the government has redirected those funds toward the expressway upgrade.
He noted that all provinces supported this decision, showcasing national unity and federal cooperation.
The Prime Minister stated that the expressway will significantly cut travel time between Karachi and Chaman from 18 hours to just 6 to 8 hours.
He added that the project will benefit not only travelers but also the transportation and trade sectors. Sharif strictly instructed that there should be no compromise on quality, and the entire project must be completed within two years.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister directed the Balochistan Chief Minister to coordinate with relevant departments to ensure land availability.
He also ordered the construction of bypasses for all major cities along the route for public convenience, consideration of environmental factors during construction, and a third-party validation after completion.
Governor Balochistan Jaffar Khan Mandokhail and Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti thanked the Prime Minister for his dedicated interest in Balochistan’s development, especially the Karachi-Chaman expressway.
The meeting was briefed on the project’s progress. It was informed that the highway would be upgraded into a four-lane dual carriageway expressway.
Previously stalled due to funding shortages, the project has resumed after reallocating petroleum savings to address financial constraints. Work has already begun on the Khuzdar-Mastung section, while strategies are being developed for five segments between Karachi and Khuzdar.
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Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Governor Mandokhail, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahsan Cheema, and senior government officials attended the meeting. Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan and Chief Minister Bugti joined via video link.
