ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s federal government has fixed December 2026 as the new target date for completing all four construction packages of the Chitral-Booni-Mastuj-Shandur Road, a strategically vital 153-kilometre highway connecting the remote northern district of Chitral to the Shandur Pass region.
According to official documents, the National Highway Authority requires Rs4.20 billion in the 2026-27 fiscal year to stay on track for the revised deadline. Authorities have already disbursed Rs6.59 billion on the project to date, underscoring the scale of investment required for a road that traverses some of the most rugged terrain in the country.
The highway, which passes through Pret, Booni, Mastuj and Shaidas before reaching Shandur, was formally designated National Highway N-140 following its federalisation in May 2020, bringing it under direct federal oversight and funding.
Construction has been divided into four separate packages, and progress across them remains uneven. The first segment, running from Chitral to Pret, leads the pack with 47.54 percent completion.
The second package, from Pret to Booni, has reached 34.77 percent, while the third stretch, connecting Booni to Shaidas, stands at 38.16 percent. The fourth and final package, from Shaidas to Shandur, trails the others at 29.78 percent progress.
Notably, the project was originally scheduled for completion between 2023 and 2024. The repeated delays reflect broader challenges facing infrastructure development in Pakistan’s mountainous north, including difficult terrain, funding constraints and logistical hurdles.
Once completed, the road is expected to significantly improve connectivity for Chitral’s residents, boost regional trade and tourism, and provide a more reliable link to the high-altitude Shandur Pass, home to the world’s highest polo ground.
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