NEWS DESK
Islamabad— The National Highways Authority (NHA) is set to receive Rs100 billion from the petroleum development levy to fund major road infrastructure projects in Balochistan, a move aimed at improving travel safety and boosting regional connectivity.
While the funding is a welcome development, it still falls short of what the NHA had hoped for. The authority had requested Rs160.2 billion for the current financial year under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) but was allocated Rs100 billion by the federal government.
Where the Funds Will Go:
- Rs34 billion has been allocated for dualising the 330 km Khuzdar-Kuchlak section of the N-25 highway.
- Rs33 billion will fund the dualisation and rehabilitation of the 273 km Karachi-Quetta-Chaman road—a key but hazardous route for commuters and trade.
- Another Rs33 billion is designated for upgrading the 187 km Kararo-Wadh and Kuchlak-Chaman sections.
These projects are part of broader efforts to upgrade Balochistan’s highway network, particularly the N-25, which connects Karachi to Chaman and has long been known as one of the country’s most dangerous roads due to its poor condition and heavy traffic.
The NHA is currently managing over Rs2,200 billion worth of infrastructure projects across Pakistan. In its PSDP proposal for FY2025-26, the authority submitted 161 project requests, out of which only 105 were approved, receiving a total of Rs227 billion in funding.
To cope with financial shortfalls, the NHA has been ramping up its own revenue. In the current fiscal year, it generated Rs64.8 billion from tolls and other sources, doubling its collections from Rs32 billion in FY2023-24.
Government Steps In
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed that savings from declining global oil prices be redirected to critical infrastructure in Balochistan, including the long-delayed N-25 highway reconstruction and Phase II of the Kachhi Canal project.
The N-25 upgrade—originally greenlit in FY2022-23 as part of a Rs300 billion project—had stalled due to funding gaps. With this latest financial push, work on the so-called “deadly highway” is expected to pick up pace, offering hope to thousands of commuters and traders who depend on this lifeline daily.
Looking Ahead
While the full funding request wasn’t met, the Rs100 billion allocation marks a major step toward addressing long-standing infrastructure gaps in Balochistan. If completed on time, these highway projects could transform the region’s economic landscape and significantly improve road safety.
