The construction of two major tourism roads in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is progressing steadily, with the 24.377-kilometre Thandiani Road reaching 63% physical completion and the 22-kilometre Mankyal Road achieving 44% progress. Meanwhile, development on six archaeological sites has been completed under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Integrated Tourism Development Project (KITE).

According to project documents available with Wealth Pakistan, the rehabilitation and upgradation of the 24.377-kilometre Thandiani Road in District Abbottabad has also achieved 47.7% financial progress, with completion expected by December 31, 2026.

Work on the road has advanced on several fronts. Around 90% of earthwork, covering 22 kilometres, has been completed, while 80% of sub-grade preparation and 80% of sub-base work, each covering 19.5 kilometres, have also been completed.

The project has completed 44% of lean concrete rigid pavement on 10.72 kilometres, while 25% of Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement rigid pavement, covering 6.315 kilometres, has been completed.

Progress on associated structures is also well advanced, with 87% of culverts and 81% of retaining walls completed. Breast-wall construction stands at 16%.

The rehabilitation and upgradation of the 22-kilometre Mankyal Road in Swat has recorded 44% physical progress and 41.5% financial progress, with an expected completion date of April 30, 2027.

Earthwork on the Mankyal Road has reached 89%, covering 20 kilometres, while 21% of sub-grade work, covering five kilometres, has also been completed. Retaining-wall construction has reached 45%, while breast-wall work stands at 12%.

The tourism-infrastructure component, meanwhile, covers the development of six archaeological sites, which has been completed and handed over to the archaeological department. The sites include Bhamala Stupa, Haripur, Chakdara Museum, Dir, Hund Museum, Swabi, Mardan Museum, Shapula Stupa, Landi Kotal, Khyber, and Kalam and Odigram mosques in Swat.

The project documents state that KITE aims to improve tourism infrastructure, enhance accessibility to key tourist destinations and strengthen institutional capacity for sustainable tourism development in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank has sponsored the project, and the project management units of the C&W and tourism departments execute it.

The project originally carried a loan amount of $70 million, alongside a Rs3 billion share of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for land acquisition. The loan amount was subsequently revised to $100 million.

ECNEC approved the revised project on May 14, 2025, with a scheduled closing date of April 30, 2027.

Credit: INP-WealthPk