Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed to complete the Karachi-Chaman Express way within two years.    

He gave these directions, while chairing a meeting in Islamabad today (Tuesday), to review the construction and up-gradation of the Chaman-Karachi National Highway (N-25) project.

The Prime Minister said standard of the highway should at par with the motorway. He said the upgradation of this 790-kilometers-long highway is significant for socio-economic development of Balochistan.    

He mentioned that the Federal cabinet in an expression of national unity, had decided last month that national exchequer saved due to reduction of petroleum prices in the international market will be channeled for upgradation of this highway.                                                 

The Prime Minister said the upgradation of this highway will reduce the current travel time of 18 hours to only six to eight hours.

He said the highway will not only benefit commuters but will also boost trade. 

He said there will be no compromise on the quality of the project and no negligence will be tolerated in this regard.   

The Prime Minister directed the Chief Minister Balochistan to coordinate with the relevant departments to ensure the availability of land for the expressway.       

He further directed that bypasses be constructed on all major cities along the route of this pressway for convenience of the public. 

The Prime Minister also directed that the environmental factor be taken into account during the construction of the project. He also directed for third-party validation of the project after completion.

The meeting was briefed on the progress of the project. It was told that work has started on the Khuzdar-Mastung section of the project, while a strategy is being formulated for the construction of five sections from Karachi to Khuzdar.

It will be a two-way road with four lanes. The funding issues have been resolved due to the federal government's decision to transfer the benefit of the reduction of prices of petroleum products to Balochistan.

Balochistan Governor Jaffar Khan Mandokhel and Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti who attended the meeting via video link thanked the Prime Minister for taking special interest in the development and progress of Balochistan, especially the upgradation of Karachi-Chaman Highway.