Hakla-D I Khan Motorway: Transforming Western CPEC Routes for Prosperity
The successful inauguration of the Hakla-D I Khan Motorway marks a significant milestone on the Western Route of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This achievement not only enhances connectivity for local residents but also establishes a vital logistics route linking China's Xinjiang province to the Gwadar Port.
P.c. Pakistan Today
Upon taking office, the current government committed to prioritizing the completion of the Western Route and expediting various CPEC projects in areas like industries, clean energy, and agriculture.
Efforts are underway to finalize other road projects along the western alignment, particularly the D I Khan-Zhob and Zhob-Quetta roads, with the aim of reducing travel time between the federal capital and Quetta.
The National High Authority recently opened the Western Corridor section of the Hakla-D I Khan Motorway, spanning 292.5 kilometers. This four-lane motorway features 11 interchanges, 36 bridges, 119 underpasses, 33 flyovers, and 398 culverts.
Muhammad Saleem, a D I Khan resident living in Islamabad, expressed relief as his eight-hour journey on the old, dilapidated road has now been shortened to less than four hours with the opening of the Hakla-D I Khan Motorway.
According to sources within the CPEC Authority, the initial estimated cost of the project, which began under the PML-N government in 2016, was approximately Rs110 billion. However, the project, which has seen significant progress under the current government, was completed at a cost of Rs81 billion.
The Hakla-D I Khan Motorway was divided into five packages:
This project connects Hakla on M-1 to various key points, including Qutbal, Fatehjang, Pindigheb, Tarap, Sikandarabad, Daud Khel, Mianwali, and more, ultimately linking to N-55 (Indus Highway) near Yarak. It will further extend to Sagu on N-50, part of the CPEC Western Route, with future plans to reach Zhob and Quetta.
D I Khan serves as a strategic junction for N-50, N-55, and the Waziristan region, making the new 292.5 km CPEC Motorway a bustling hub for businesses in North Punjab, Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Afghanistan. The motorway also traverses landscapes and farms producing various crops, including high-quality mangoes and dates, unlocking the agricultural potential of North Punjab and South KP.
This motorway promises to improve the socioeconomic conditions of the local population and is part of a larger plan for the CPEC Western Route. Completed projects on this route include the Hakla-D I Khan Motorway, Qutta-Sohrab road, Surab-Hoshab road, and Hoshab-Gwadar road. Under construction are the Zhob-Quetta road, Basima-Khuzdar road, Nokundi-Mashkel road, and Hoshab-Awaran road.
Future projects on the Western Route pipeline encompass the Peshawar-D I Khan motorway, Karachi-Quetta-Chaman road, Mashkhel-Panjgur road, Awaran-Khuzdar road, Panjgur-Awaran road, and Awaran-Jhal Jao-Bela road.
Progress is also evident in other critical sections, such as the D.I. Khan (Yarik)-Zhob Road (N-50), Zhob-Quetta (N-50) roads, and the Khuzdar-Quetta-Chaman Section of N-25. Operational routes include Surab-Hoshab at N-85 and Gwadar-Turbat-Hoshab (M-8).
The Western alignment routes of CPEC, passing through impoverished regions with limited job opportunities and infrastructure, are set to undergo significant transformation. The completion of these projects will bring prosperity to these areas.
The CPEC Authority is gearing up for the second phase of CPEC, expanding its focus beyond infrastructure to include agriculture, economic zones, and sectors like science, technology, information technology, and agriculture, promising an even brighter future for the region.