- A proposed motorway route would link Mansehra, Naran, Kaghan and Babusar Top to Jalkhand.
- The communications minister says it could serve as an alternative to the Karakoram Highway and cut travel by ~100 km.
- The project is being discussed as part of road network improvements for Gilgit-Baltistan and northern areas.
- Officials say better tourist-area roads can increase visitors and create local jobs and business activity.
- Next steps will likely depend on feasibility, cost, environmental planning, and NHA execution capacity.
What Was Discussed and Why the Route Matters
Gilgit-Baltistan Governor Syed Mehdi Shah met Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan to discuss infrastructure development and improvements in road networks in the region. A major focus was a proposed motorway project that would link Mansehra, Naran, Kaghan and Babusar Top to Jalkhand.
This route matters because it targets one of Pakistan’s most travel-heavy tourist corridors and connects key northern gateways. Mansehra and the Kaghan valley routes already carry large seasonal traffic. Extending a motorway-style connection up to Babusar Top and onward to Jalkhand could create a more direct and better-managed travel pathway, especially during peak tourist months when roads face congestion and wear.
For Gilgit-Baltistan, any alternative access route can reduce reliance on a single corridor and provide flexibility during closures, maintenance, or weather disruptions. Even if the motorway is not a full replacement for existing routes, having an alternative can improve resilience for both tourism and goods movement.
How the Motorway Could Reduce Distance by 100 km
According to Abdul Aleem Khan, the proposed motorway would serve as an alternative to the Karakoram Highway (KKH) and reduce travel distance by around 100 kilometres. A shorter route can translate into multiple benefits for travellers: lower fuel cost, reduced travel time, and less fatigue—especially for families and tourists who travel long distances to reach northern destinations.
A distance reduction also matters for logistics. Even small reductions can lower transport cost for supplies moving into tourist towns, which can help local businesses. For emergency response and administration, faster connectivity can improve the movement of medical support and essential services during peak seasons.
However, the real impact depends on road quality, slope management, safety design, and weather resilience. Northern routes face landslides, snow risks, and heavy rain. So the practical value of “100 km shorter” will ultimately depend on whether the road remains reliably open and safe across seasons.
Tourism, Jobs, and Local Business Impact
The communications minister said the motorway would facilitate easier travel and promote tourism in the region. He also said the government is prioritising road development in tourist areas to attract more visitors and create employment and business opportunities for local communities.
Better roads often increase tourist volume because they reduce uncertainty. When access is smoother, more families travel, more tour operators run routes, and hotels and restaurants see higher occupancy. This can create jobs directly in transport and hospitality and indirectly through local trade, handicrafts, and services.
At the same time, tourism-led growth needs planning. If visitor numbers rise sharply, towns can face pressure on waste management, water resources, and environmental protection. That is why road projects often need parallel planning for parking, traffic control, and basic civic services in high-footfall areas.
If designed well, a motorway connection can shift the northern economy from short peak bursts to a more stable tourism calendar by improving accessibility beyond limited “good weather” windows.
What Happens Next and What Stakeholders Will Watch
The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to uniform development across the country and emphasised quality road infrastructure, particularly in northern areas. Governor Syed Mehdi Shah expressed satisfaction with the performance of the National Highway Authority (NHA) and appreciated federal support for Gilgit-Baltistan development.
For residents and travellers, the next questions are practical:
- Feasibility and alignment: what exact route, gradients, and engineering solutions are planned?
- Cost and timeline: how will the project be funded and phased?
- Environmental and safety planning: how will landslide risk, snow, and seasonal closures be handled?
- NHA execution: can the project be delivered with quality and maintained reliably?
The project is still at the discussion and proposal stage, but the policy signal is clear. Pakistan is looking to expand high-quality road access to the north as a tourism and development lever. If feasibility and funding align, the motorway could become a major addition to the northern road network and a key alternative corridor to the KKH.
