By Muhammad Faisal Kaleem

The Zonal Committee of the National Highway Authority (NHA) has recommended revising the cost for Sections I and II of the Khuzdar–Kuchlak dualization project on the Balochistan Expressway (N-25). According to the documents available with Wealth Pakistan, the rehabilitation project has been awarded to M/s SMAD Baloch and M/s Umar Jan in a joint venture with NPI.

 The zonal committee made the recommendation after the contractors submitted the revised cost. The committee’s recommendation will be considered in light of observations and comments by the Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC), Planning, and Contract Administration (P&CA). The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) last year approved the dualization of 332-kilometer Khuzdar-Kuchlak section at a cost of around Rs100 billion. The entire project is expected to be completed within two years.

A senior official of the NHA’s Engineering Wing told Wealth Pakistan that dualization of the Khuzdar–Kuchlak section of N-25 will significantly improve road safety, reduce travel time, and lower transportation costs for passengers and freight alike.

“The project will facilitate smoother connectivity among Balochistan’s key districts and national markets, boosting trade, tourism, and economic activity in the region,” he said. Improved infrastructure will reduce accidents on this accident-prone highway and ensure uninterrupted movement of essential goods, he added.

Moreover, the project will generate employment opportunities during the construction phase and contribute to long-term socio-economic development in remote areas of the province. The carriageway will enhance year-round accessibility, particularly during adverse weather conditions, strengthen regional integration, and improve law enforcement mobility and emergency response time, providing safer and more reliable travel for the local communities and inter-provincial commuters.

 Separately, the federal government has also approved the dualization of 104km Karoro Wadh-Khuzdar Chaman section at a cost of Rs133 billion. An amount of Rs33 billion has been earmarked for this section in the current fiscal year, but Rs50 billion per year will be needed over the next two years to complete the project on time.

Credit: INP-WealthPk