Pakistan is all ready to set on a major infrastructure milestone this year as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is anticipated to break ground on the long-awaited N-25 Expressway on August 14, 2025.
The ambitious project will assist in upgrading the critical route linking Karachi to Quetta and Chaman, intends to change trade and travel between Sindh and Balochistan while opening new corridors to Central Asia.
What sets this project different is its unique funding model. To generate resources, the federal government increased the petroleum levy by Rs 8 per litre, earmarking this revenue for road construction. Resultantly, Rs 100 billion has been allocated in the current fiscal year specifically for the N-25 upgrade.
From RCD Highway to Modern Expressway
Often remembered as the old RCD highway, the 815-kilometre-long route has long been notorious for its
- Narrow lanes
- Sharp turns
- Safety issues
Once upgraded to a modern expressway, it will significantly cut travel times, improve road safety, and support economic activity in underserved regions.
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On Tuesday, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal chaired a high-level review meeting with officials from the Ministry of Communications, National Highway Authority (NHA), and Frontier Works Organisation (FWO).
NHA officials presented progress updates, including the dualisation of the Hub bypass, which was recently added to the plan. They confirmed that the revised PC-1 proposal would be formally submitted on July 2.
Service Areas and Security Plans
Minister Iqbal emphasized the need to think beyond just building a road. He has given the instructions that service areas be carefully planned along the expressway to support truckers and travelers. These will include
- Rest stops
- Fuel stations
- Restaurants
- Workshops
- Other essential amenities, with larger service hubs are providing for comprehensive facilities.
He also called for consulting trucking organizations to identify the best locations for these service areas, ensuring they meet industry needs.
Ensuring Safety and Future Expansion
Expressing concern over past security incidents—highlighting that 42 FWO workers lost their lives building the N-85 highway—Iqbal demanded strict security measures for N-25. A dedicated security force will be created, and deployment will be carefully aligned with the construction schedule.
Finally, the minister stressed that the design must accommodate future traffic growth. He directed planners to ensure that the expressway can be expanded to six lanes when regional trade and connectivity increase over the coming decades.
Calling N-25 a “gateway to Central Asia”, Minister Ahsan restated the sheer dedication of the Gov to completing this transformative project by August 2027, promising it will uplift the socioeconomic development of Balochistan and strengthen national integration.