ISLAMABAD : Monitoring Desk – Around eight projects totaling US$ 6.7 billion in the transport infrastructure sector under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) have been completed, while several others are underway.
According to Economic Survey 2024-25 report issued on Monday, notably, 888 km of motorways and highways have been constructed, with an additional 853 km in progress through local funding.
Among the standout achievements is the Havelian-Thakot section of the Karakoram Highway (KKH), a 120-kilometer stretch that earned the prestigious ENR Award for excellence. Meanwhile, the completion of the Cross-Border Optical Fiber Cable and a pilot project for Digital Terrestrial Media Broadcasting mark significant technological milestones.
Gwadar Port has become operational, alongside the completion of a hospital, a vocational training institute, and a desalination plant key steps toward transforming Gwadar into a smart port city.
The key operational projects include the Multan-Sukkur Motorway (392 km), Hakla-D.I. Khan Motorway (297 km), KKH Phase II Havelian-Thakot (120 km), and Khuzdar-Basima (110 km).
The Orange Line Metro Train in Lahore and the operationalization of the New Gwadar International Airport demonstrate further advancement in urban and air connectivity. Ongoing road projects include Zhob-Kuchlak (298 km), Nokundi-Mashkhel (103 km), Hoshab-Awaran M-8 (146 km), and Awaran-Khuzdar M-8 (168 km). Discussions are ongoing for the Sagu-Zhob section of National Highway N-50, it added.
Meanwhile, the National Highway Authority is preparing for the realignment of the Thakot-Raikot section of the KKH due to the Dasu and Bhasha Dams. A PC-I has been approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), with technical discussions ongoing with China.
In the rail sector, consultations continue on the transformative Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway upgrade, while a framework agreement for the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) has been submitted to the Chinese side for inclusion in CPEC.
Furthermore, in the Joint Working Group on Transport and Infrastructure under CPEC, it has been agreed to conduct the feasibility studies of the following new projects, Mirpur-Muzaffarabad-Mansehra (MMM), M-9 Motorway, Babusar Tunnel and D.I. Khan-Zhob.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a cornerstone of the strategic partnership between Islamabad and Beijing, is rapidly reshaping Pakistan’s transport infrastructure. Linking China’s western regions to global markets via Gwadar Port, CPEC boosts Pakistan’s integration into global supply chains, promoting trade, investment, and inclusive development.
