One year deadline set for Karachi Chaman highway

January 15, 2026 (MLN): Work on the long-awaited Karachi Chaman highway has formally begun, with the federal government setting a one year completion target instead of the originally planned two years.

Addressing federal cabinet members, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said he recently visited Quetta, where the foundation stone of the nearly 850-kilometre highway was laid.

Commonly referred to as a “bloody road” due to frequent fatal accidents, the highway will be reconstructed at an estimated cost of around Rs400 billion, fully financed by the federal government.

The prime minister said the Ministry of Communications had initially proposed a two-year timeline, but directions were issued to ensure completion within a year, as reported by APP.

He explained that savings generated from a previous decision to keep domestic petroleum prices unchanged during a sharp decline in global oil prices are now being utilised to convert the dangerous route into a pathway for economic growth and regional connectivity.

He also highlighted the completion of a Rs75 billion agricultural support package for farmers, including Rs50 billion provided by the federal government.

The initiative, he said, addressed the long-standing problem of electricity theft by shifting agricultural irrigation to solar power, enabling farmers to irrigate their land independently and sustain agricultural activity.

Progress on education initiatives was also shared, with construction of Daanish schools already underway in the province and contractors mobilised during the current month.

Five schools had earlier been approved, while two additional institutions were announced during the recent visit, bringing the total to seven. All seven Daanish schools are expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Under the prime minister’s education programmes, up to 100,000 laptops are being distributed across the country, while thousands of scholarships are being awarded to deserving male and female students to support higher education and skills development.

Referring to the broader economic outlook, the prime minister expressed satisfaction over improving stability and said further development measures would be taken to support growth and long-term prosperity in Pakistan.

He thanked stakeholders for their continued cooperation and confidence in government policies.

During a later exchange of views on political and security matters, he said that following the success of Marka-e-Haq, international demand for Pakistan’s defence equipment has increased, with several countries now engaged in talks to acquire locally manufactured military hardware.

He also paid tribute to the armed forces and law enforcement agencies for their sustained efforts and sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.

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