Federal Minister for Communications Aleem Khan has approved the construction of a new 172-kilometer motorway connecting Mansehra, Kaghan, Naran, Jhal Khand, and Chilas, providing an alternative route to the Karakoram Highway (KKH).
The decision was made during a meeting of the National Highway Authority (NHA), chaired by the communications minister, where several initiatives aimed at modernizing Pakistan’s transport infrastructure were reviewed and approved.
Officials informed the meeting that the proposed Mansehra-Naran-Jhal Khand-Chilas (MNJC) Motorway will shorten travel distance by up to 120 kilometers compared to the existing Karakoram Highway route.
The project will be executed in two phases. The first phase will cover the section from Mansehra to Kaghan, Naran, and Babusar Top, while the second phase will extend the motorway from Babusar Top to Chilas.
One of the project’s most significant features is the planned construction of a 13.5-kilometer Babusar Tunnel, which is expected to become the longest tunnel in Pakistan.
The four-lane motorway has been designed with future expansion in mind and can be upgraded to six lanes as traffic demand increases. Modern rest areas will be established every 25 to 30 kilometers, while freight terminals will be developed at both ends of the route to facilitate trade and logistics.
Speaking on the project’s strategic importance, Aleem Khan said the existing trade routes connecting Pakistan with China are often lengthy and costly. The new motorway will provide a faster and more efficient connection between western China and Pakistan’s ports at Karachi and Gwadar.
According to the minister, the route will become one of the shortest and most cost-effective trade corridors linking the Arabian Sea with western China, significantly reducing transportation time and logistics costs.
The minister directed NHA officials to complete all technical planning and project preparations within the designated timeframe to ensure timely implementation.
