Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has issued directives for the completion of the Karachi-Chaman Expressway within a two-year timeframe. This directive was made during a meeting in Islamabad to review the construction and upgradation of the Chaman-Karachi National Highway (N-25) project.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister emphasized that the highway’s standards should match those of a motorway, highlighting the significance of the 790-kilometer project for the socio-economic development of Balochistan. He noted that the federal cabinet had decided last month to allocate savings from reduced international petroleum prices to the highway’s upgradation, as an expression of national unity.

The Prime Minister stated that once upgraded, the highway will reduce travel time from the current 18 hours to only six to eight hours, benefiting commuters and boosting trade. He stressed the importance of project quality, stating that no negligence would be tolerated.

He instructed the Chief Minister of Balochistan to ensure coordination with relevant departments to secure the necessary land for the expressway and directed the construction of bypasses around major cities along the route for public convenience. Environmental considerations and third-party validation of the completed project were also mandated.

During the meeting, progress on the project was reviewed. It was reported that work on the Khuzdar-Mastung section has commenced, and a strategy is being developed for five sections between Karachi and Khuzdar. The expressway is planned as a two-way road with four lanes, with funding issues resolved by transferring savings from petroleum price reductions to Balochistan.

Balochistan Governor Jaffar Khan Mandokhel and Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, who attended the meeting via video link, expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for his focus on Balochistan’s development and the Karachi-Chaman Highway’s upgradation.