Pakistan has approved a major infrastructure project aimed at improving connectivity, trade, and tourism between the northern regions and China.
The proposed 172-kilometre motorway will connect Mansehra, Kaghan, Naran, Babusar Top, and Chilas, significantly reducing travel distance between Mansehra and Chilas by around 120 kilometres.
A key feature of the project is the construction of a 13.5-kilometre Babusar Tunnel, which is expected to become the longest tunnel in Pakistan once completed.
The motorway will be developed in two phases. Phase I will cover the route from Mansehra to Kaghan and Naran up to Babusar Top. Phase II will extend the corridor from Babusar Top to Chilas.
According to experts, the project is expected to create a faster and more efficient trade route linking the Arabian Sea with western China. It will also strengthen connectivity between China’s western regions and Pakistan’s major seaports, including Karachi and Gwadar.
Officials say the new corridor will reduce cargo transit times, support regional trade growth, and improve access to northern tourist destinations, giving a boost to the local economy and tourism sector.
