On Tuesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced allocating savings from reduced international oil prices to major development projects in Balochistan instead of passing them directly to consumers. The focus of these funds includes the reconstruction of the N-25 Highway and the completion of the Kachhi Canal Phase-II.
The N-25, infamously referred to as the “deadly road,” connects Karachi to Chaman via Quetta, Kalat, and Khuzdar. It has unfortunately claimed over 2,000 lives in recent years due to its deteriorated condition and single-lane design. During a federal cabinet meeting, PM Shehbaz described the project as essential to reversing years of neglect in the region.
“While motorways span across many parts of the country, Balochistan has waited too long for equitable infrastructure. Turning the N-25 into a highway of prosperity is a commitment we must fulfill,” said the PM.
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The federal government will manage the Rs300 billion N-25 improvement project and include third-party oversight to ensure robust quality standards. PM Shehbaz, in collaboration with Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, vowed to personally monitor its progress. The project had originally been approved during FY 2022-23, but funding shortages delayed its execution.
The reallocation of funds from lower oil prices has also enabled Phase-II of the Kachhi Canal project, a Rs70 billion irrigation initiative expected to transform farmland in Balochistan’s arid regions. The project will significantly enhance agriculture and food security while improving livelihoods across the province.
Additional Federal Undertakings:
- A Rs70 billion solar tube well initiative to alleviate energy costs, co-funded by the federal and provincial governments, with 70% of the cost borne by Islamabad.
- Expansion of high-quality road networks, including the Hyderabad-Sukkur M-6 Motorway and the M-9 Motorway from Sukkur to Karachi.
Balochistan CM Sarfraz Bugti commended the federal prioritization of projects in the long-neglected province, noting that the N-25 has symbolized deprivation for decades.
The cabinet meeting also included key decisions such as amendments to the Petroleum Levy Ordinance (1961), approval of the Sustainable Investment Sukuk Framework for renewable energy funding, and the establishment of the National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority to promote agricultural innovation.
The session concluded with acknowledgment of the tragic loss of eight Pakistani lives in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province, and prayers for the recovery of former President Asif Ali Zardari.
