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Abdul Alem Khan. PHOTO: ONLINE
ISLAMABAD:
Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan on Friday said the new N-15 highway connecting Mansehra, Naran, Jalkhad and Chilas would serve as an alternative route to the Karakoram Highway to the Chinese border and new tourism, trade and defense routes would be opened by modernizing the northern areas.
The minister was chairing a high-level meeting of the National Highway Authority (NHA) during which important decisions were taken to improve connectivity in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and northern regions, a press release said.
The meeting held a detailed review of the project to construct a new four-lane N-15 highway that will meet international standards to provide the best commercial corridor.
Khan said that the N-15 project would be a unique and revolutionary initiative in terms of the requirements of the current times 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 easily be maintained.
He further said that the highway from Mansehra to Chilas would remain accessible throughout the year, thereby reducing travel difficulties and significantly improving winter tourism in the northern regions.
The minister directed that the project should be designed as per international standards in the larger national interest as it would have far-reaching positive effects on the communication network in the northern regions and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
