ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif directed the completion of the Karachi-Chaman Expressway within two years. He issued these instructions while presiding over a meeting in Islamabad today, on Tuesday, to review the progress of the Chaman-Karachi National Highway construction and upgrade project.
The Prime Minister emphasised that the highway’s standard should match that of a motorway. He highlighted the significance of upgrading this 790-kilometer stretch of road for the socio-economic development of Balochistan.
He also noted that, in a move reflecting national unity, the Federal Cabinet had decided last month that the savings from reduced petroleum prices in the international market would be allocated towards the highway’s upgradation.
According to the Prime Minister, once the highway is upgraded, travel time will be reduced from the current 18 hours to just six to eight hours. He pointed out that this project will not only benefit commuters but also enhance trade along the route.
The Prime Minister stressed that there would be no compromise on the quality of the project and that any negligence would not be tolerated. He directed Balochistan’s Chief Minister to coordinate with relevant departments to ensure land availability for the expressway.
Further, he instructed the construction of bypasses around major cities along the route for the convenience of the public. The Prime Minister also emphasised the importance of considering environmental factors during the project’s construction and ordered third-party validation upon completion.
During the meeting, the progress of the project was reviewed. Officials reported that work has already begun on the Khuzdar-Mastung section, while a strategy for building five sections from Karachi to Khuzdar is being finalised. The expressway will feature a two-way road with four lanes. Funding for the project has been secured through the federal government’s decision to channel savings from reduced petroleum prices to Balochistan.
Balochistan Governor Jaffar Khan Mandokhel and Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, who attended the meeting via video link, expressed their gratitude to the Prime Minister for his special attention to the development of Balochistan, particularly the upgradation of the Karachi-Chaman Highway.
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