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Abdul Aleem Khan. PHOTO: ONLINE
ISLAMABAD:
Federal Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan said on Friday that the new N-15 highway from Mansehra, Naran, Jalkhad and Chilas will serve as an alternative route to the Karakoram Highway up to the border with China, and new avenues for tourism, trade and defense will be opened by upgrading the northern areas.
The minister chaired a high-level meeting of the National Highway Authority (NHA) where important decisions were taken to improve connectivity in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and northern areas, a press release said.
The meeting held a detailed review of the plan to build a new four-lane N-15 highway that will meet international standards to provide the best trade corridor.
Khan said that the N-15 project would be a unique and revolutionary initiative in terms of the requirements of today’s era and future requirements.
He added that compared to the existing Karakoram Highway, this route would significantly reduce travel distance and time, while the new road would be so wide and of high quality that a speed limit of 60 to 80 kilometers per hour could be easily maintained.
He further stated that the highway from Mansehra to Chilas would remain accessible throughout the year, reducing travel difficulties and greatly improving winter tourism in the northern areas as well.
The minister directed that the project be designed as per international standards in wider national interest as it would have far-reaching positive effects on the communication network in the northern areas and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
