Pakistan has officially given the green light to a sweeping infrastructure initiative that promises to reshape travel and commerce across its northern highlands. The government-approved project will establish a modern motorway stretching 172 kilometres through some of the country’s most scenic yet challenging terrain.
The new road will run from Mansehra through the popular valleys of Kaghan and Naran, continue over Babusar Top, and conclude at Chilas — effectively trimming the journey between Mansehra and Chilas by approximately 120 kilometres compared to existing routes.
The planned Babusar Tunnel, at 13.5 kilometres, is set to claim the title of Pakistan’s longest tunnel upon completion — a milestone in the country’s engineering ambitions.
Construction will be carried out in two distinct phases. The first phase covers the stretch from Mansehra through Kaghan and Naran up to Babusar Top, while the second will complete the link down to Chilas, finalising the full corridor.
Beyond cutting travel time, analysts say the motorway will serve a strategic purpose — creating a direct, high-efficiency land route connecting Pakistan’s Arabian Sea ports to western China. Both Karachi and Gwadar stand to benefit, with the corridor expected to meaningfully cut the time needed to move goods between Chinese markets and Pakistani seaports.
Officials have pointed to the project’s broader economic potential, noting that improved road access will not only accelerate cargo movement but also attract more visitors to the northern tourist belt — a region celebrated for its mountains, glaciers, and valleys but long hampered by limited infrastructure.
