ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan has said that a new state-of-the-art motorway linking Mansehra, Kaghan, Naran, Jhal Khand, and Chilas will be constructed to provide a safe and efficient alternative route to the existing Karakoram Highway.
An important meeting of the National Highway Authority (NHA) was held under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan on Tuesday, where key decisions were taken to modernise the country’s communication network.
The minister was briefed in detail on crucial matters and new projects.
He said that with this strategic alternative route, the travel distance on the Karakoram Highway will be reduced by up to 120 kilometers.
During the briefing, it was shared that the total length of the MNJC Motorway will be 172 kilometers.
Aleem Khan said this project will be completed in two phases; in the first phase, the motorway will be built from Mansehra to Kaghan, Naran, and Babusar Top, while in the second phase, the project will be completed from Babusar Top to Chilas. A major highlight of the project is the construction of the 13.5 km long Babusar Tunnel, which will be the longest tunnel in Pakistan. Keeping future requirements in mind, this 4-lane motorway will have the capacity to be expanded to 6 lanes. Furthermore, modern rest areas will be built every 25 to 30 kilometers for commuters, and specialised trucking terminals for goods transport will be established on both sides of the motorway.
Highlighting the economic significance of the project, the minister stated that traditionally, trade from the Arabian Sea to China via existing routes consumes an immense amount of time and leads to a massive wastage of financial resources.
In contrast to this lengthy and costly transit, this new motorway will be directly linked with China, connecting Western China to the ports of Karachi and Gwadar. This network will serve as the fastest, shortest, and most cost-effective route from the Arabian Sea to Western China, drastically reducing transit times and expenditures while proving to be a real game-changer for the sustainable development of the Gwadar Port.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Federal Minister issued directives to the concerned to finalise all technical aspects of the project within the stipulated time frame.
Secretary of the Communications Ministry and Chairman of the NHA were also present during the meeting.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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