Islamabad: The Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, has instructed the National Highway Authority (NHA) to hold the groundbreaking ceremony for the N-25 Expressway on August 14, 2025. This directive came during a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Communications, NHA, and Frontier Works Organization (FWO) to evaluate the project’s progress.

NHA officials briefed the Minister on the project’s status, noting the addition of the dualization of the Hub Bypass to the revised PC1 project. This inclusion followed a recommendation from the Minister for Communication on June 20th. The revised PC1 is anticipated to be submitted by July 2nd. The NHA had earlier invited bids from State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) on June 17th, with the bid opening scheduled for July 2nd.

The FWO reported that the project is being executed in four sections, with 68% of the work completed on the 51 km stretch from Jiwa to Surab. The Planning Minister urged the NHA to expedite the completion of necessary formalities for the groundbreaking ceremony.

The Minister also reviewed plans for constructing service areas along the expressway, stressing the need for facilities that cater to truckers. He highlighted the importance of well-equipped service areas, offering rest areas, fuel pumps, restaurants, and vehicle workshops.

Additionally, the Minister directed that the input of truck companies be sought to identify optimal locations for these service areas. He emphasized the need for some larger service areas to offer comprehensive services to truckers.

Expressing concern over security, the Minister highlighted past incidents where 42 FWO workers lost their lives during the N-85 construction. He called for stringent security measures, urging the Balochistan government to ensure safety in Gwadar city and along N-85. The Minister proposed establishing a dedicated security force for N-25, with deployment aligned with project timelines.

Looking ahead, the Planning Minister underscored the need to plan for potential future expansion of the expressway lanes due to anticipated regional connectivity growth. He noted the importance of developing the expressway to facilitate easy expansion to six lanes in the future.

Minister Ahsan Iqbal described the N-25 as a vital transport route between Sindh and Balochistan and a potential gateway to Central Asia. He highlighted its potential to boost the socioeconomic development of Balochistan and directed stakeholders to complete the project by August 2027, positioning it as a significant development milestone for the country.