QUETTA: Pakistan has accelerated work on the expansion of the National Highway N-25 from Karachi to Chaman under a major infrastructure initiative named the Pakistan Expressway, a project officials describe as a key step toward economic transformation in Balochistan.
The N-25 highway, once widely known as a “bloody highway” because of frequent accidents, is being upgraded into a modern dual carriageway aimed at improving road safety, regional connectivity and trade.
The 810-kilometer project includes the widening of the highway from Karachi to Chaman along with the construction of a 3.6-kilometer twin tunnel in the Khojak mountain range.
Officials said the new tunnel would reduce travel time between Chaman and Shelabagh from around 40 minutes to just five minutes. Travel time between Karachi and Chaman is also expected to drop to nearly eight hours.
The project is being developed with the support of the federal government and the Frontier Works Organization. Completion is expected by October 2027.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has described the project as vital for the development of Balochistan. He said revenue generated from petroleum products would be used for public welfare projects and the construction of national highways, including the expansion of N-25.
Experts say the Pakistan Expressway is more than a road project and could reshape the economic future of the province.
The N-25 is considered one of Pakistan’s most strategically important highways because it links Karachi’s ports with the border town of Chaman, creating a trade route to Afghanistan and the Central Asian region.
Analysts believe the upgraded highway will increase Pakistan-Afghanistan transit trade and improve cargo movement from the ports of Karachi and Gwadar to border areas in less time.
The project is also expected to improve access to mineral-rich districts in Balochistan, helping transport natural resources and encouraging investment in the province.
Officials and analysts say the highway could also improve security and social connectivity in remote areas that remained isolated because of poor road conditions and long travel times.
Economic experts believe timely completion of the project could create new opportunities in employment, transport, logistics and local industries across Balochistan.
Residents of the province have welcomed the initiative and expressed hope that the Pakistan Expressway would strengthen economic growth and improve connectivity between Balochistan and the rest of the country.
