ISLAMABAD: The National Highway Authority (NHA) has officially commenced the long-awaited construction of the N-25 (Pakistan Expressway) in Balochistan, a landmark project aimed at improving connectivity and fostering economic growth in the region. Spanning 800 kilometres, the highway will connect major cities, including Karachi, Quetta, and Chaman, and is expected to significantly reduce travel time between key points in Balochistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who announced the project earlier this year, emphasised its strategic importance for Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by area. In a recent meeting, Federal Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan highlighted that the expressway would be a transformative step for the province’s socio-economic development, enhancing trade, transportation, and public convenience. Minister Khan also reviewed the progress of other infrastructure projects in Balochistan, including the M-8, which is vital for improving connectivity to the Gwadar Port.
The Karachi-Chaman National Highway, previously known as the “Khooni Road” due to frequent accidents, will be reconstructed in its entirety under the N-25 project. The reconstruction, which has been approved at an estimated cost of Rs300 billion to 350 billion, will reduce travel time from 18 hours to just six hours, vastly improving safety and efficiency along the route.
Additionally, work on the Lyari Expressway in Karachi is also progressing, with Minister Khan ordering the early completion of the remaining sections. This expressway will be developed as a model road, with advanced standards for cleanliness, landscaping, and beautification.
The N-25 expressway is expected to be a four-lane dual carriageway, with completion set for two years. The project is seen as a crucial lifeline for Balochistan’s prosperity and a catalyst for regional development.
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