Construction of 718 kilometers of highways in western Balochistan under the CPEC Western Route, costing Rs310 billion, is underway, with Rs163.17 billion already released, including major projects such as the 330 km Khuzdar-Kuchlak highway allocated Rs82.6 billion.

Improved road connectivity is expected to reduce the province’s geographic isolation, ease the movement of goods and people, expand access to markets and services, and support local trade and employment.

The article notes that sustained economic gains will require complementary infrastructure, maintenance, road safety, local involvement, and transparent management beyond the roads themselves.

The development of the economy of Balochistan is directly linked to its ability to break free from its geographic isolation and establish links to important markets inside and outside the country. While the province enjoys natural resource wealth, fertile land for agriculture, coastal access to important sea routes, and proximity to other countries, it has been unable to harness its full potential owing to poor infrastructure. Road networks in the province have limited commercial activity in various districts while making the transportation of goods and provision of services difficult in the remote areas.

Construction projects costing Rs310 billion are currently underway in western parts of Balochistan covering 718 kilometers of important highways. The magnitude of the investments highlights the significance of road construction to the country’s economy. For the highway projects in western Balochistan, a total of Rs163.17 billion has been released from the budget approved for the highway projects in accordance with the information regarding funding allocation for the Western Route of the CPEC project. These projects may have a considerable impact on the area and would connect it to economic hubs.

Overcoming Geographical Isolation

The geographical extent of Balochistan makes accessibility an important factor for economic development because the long and difficult travel distances make it costly to move produce and other commodities to markets. Besides, the lack of infrastructure makes it difficult to access facilities like education and healthcare.

The development of the Western Route is expected to relieve the burden on the transportation sector while linking the region’s districts to major commercial hubs. Better roads would allow locals to conduct business with greater ease and access to public services. It would also reduce the time taken to reach distant markets.

The positive........

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