Islamabad: The Minister for Communications, Abdul Aleem Khan, has announced the construction of a new motorway connecting Mansehra to Chilas, aiming to provide commuters with a safer alternative to the Karakoram Highway. This initiative, discussed during a National Highway Authority (NHA) meeting in Islamabad, is part of a broader effort to modernize the country’s communication network and improve travel efficiency.

According to Radio Pakistan, the planned Mansehra-Chilas Motorway will span 172 kilometers, traversing the Kaghan, Naran, and Jhal Khand areas. The new route is expected to reduce the travel distance on the Karakoram Highway by up to 120 kilometers. The project will be executed in two phases: the first from Mansehra to Babusar Top and the second from Babusar Top to Chilas. A key feature of the project is the 13.5-kilometer Babusar Tunnel, which will be the longest tunnel in Pakistan.

Abdul Aleem Khan outlined that the four-lane motorway is designed to be expanded to six lanes. The plan includes the construction of modern rest areas every 25 to 30 kilometers and specialized trucking terminals on both sides of the motorway. The motorway is also expected to play a pivotal role in economic development, linking Western China with the ports of Karachi and Gwadar. This connection is anticipated to provide a faster and more cost-effective route from the Arabian Sea to Western China, potentially reducing transit times and costs. The meeting was attended by the Secretary of Communications and the Chairman of the National Highway Authority.