GB governor, communications minister discuss proposed motorway link

ISLAMABAD: Gilgit-Baltistan Governor Syed Mehdi Shah met Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan on Thursday to discuss infrastructure development and the improvement of road networks in the region.

According to the details shared from the meeting, the two sides reviewed the proposed motorway project linking Mansehra, Naran, Kaghan and Babusar Top to Jalkhand, referred to as the MNJ project.

During the meeting, Abdul Aleem Khan said the proposed motorway would provide an alternative route to the Karakoram Highway (KKH). He said the project would also cut travel distance by 100 kilometres.

The communications minister said the motorway would make travel easier and help promote tourism in the area, adding that the scheme would be a game changer for the region.

He further said the government wanted to improve roads in tourist destinations on a priority basis in order to attract more visitors. According to him, this would also create employment and business opportunities for local communities.

Focus on northern road infrastructure

Aleem Khan reiterated the government’s commitment to balanced development across the country and said the construction of quality road infrastructure in all regions, particularly in northern areas, remained a priority.

The discussion took place in the context of broader efforts to strengthen connectivity and transport infrastructure in Gilgit-Baltistan and adjoining areas.

Governor Syed Mehdi Shah expressed satisfaction over the performance of the National Highway Authority during the meeting. He also appreciated the federal minister’s support for the development of Gilgit-Baltistan.

The proposed motorway from Mansehra through Naran, Kaghan and Babusar Top to Jalkhand was a central subject of the meeting, with both sides discussing its significance for regional connectivity and development.

The minister’s remarks highlighted the project’s expected role in easing movement, offering an alternate route to the KKH and supporting tourism-related economic activity in the region.

Officials also discussed the need to continue improving road links in the north, where transport infrastructure is seen as important for travel, tourism and local economic opportunities.

The meeting underscored the federal government’s stated emphasis on road development in tourist areas and its wider commitment to infrastructure expansion in underserved regions, especially Gilgit-Baltistan and other northern parts of the country.