ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday announced that the government will use savings from reduced global oil prices to rebuild the N-25 Highway and complete the second phase of the Kachhi Canal project in Balochistan, instead of passing on the relief to consumers.
During a federal cabinet meeting, the prime minister declared that the N-25—a dangerous single-lane road often called the “deadly road”—would be upgraded to motorway standards. He said this decision reflects the government’s commitment to ending years of neglect in Balochistan.
The N-25 connects Karachi to Chaman via Quetta, Kalat, and Khuzdar and has been the site of over 2,000 deaths in recent years due to its poor condition. The Rs300 billion reconstruction project will now be supervised by the federal government, with third-party checks to ensure quality.
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PM Shehbaz also announced that Phase-II of the Kachhi Canal, a Rs70 billion irrigation project, would be completed using the same funds. Once finished, it will transform agriculture in Balochistan by bringing water to arid lands.
The prime minister emphasized fair resource distribution and highlighted other projects, including the solarization of Balochistan’s tubewells and the construction of the Hyderabad-Sukkur (M-6) and Sukkur-Karachi (M-9) motorways.
During the meeting, PM Shehbaz condemned the killing of eight Pakistanis in Iran and demanded justice. He also prayed for President Asif Ali Zardari’s recovery from COVID-19.
The cabinet approved key decisions, including amendments to the Petroleum Levy Ordinance, a framework for green investment projects, and a bill to establish the National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, attending as a special guest, praised the PM for prioritizing neglected projects in the province.
