Motorways Pave the Way for KP’s Entrepreneurs

APP 

Peshawar: As dawn breaks over Amankot town in Nowshera district, Ibrahim Shah turns the ignition of his pickup truck and sets off for Mansehra via the Peshawar Motorway. For the poultry trader, Saturdays have come to symbolise opportunity—made possible by the smooth ribbon of asphalt stretching across northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“Earlier, the journey used to take long hours on broken GT roads,” Ibrahim says, adjusting his Chitrali woollen cap before starting the drive. “Now, with the Hazara Motorway and Peshawar Motorway, I reach Mansehra quickly, save fuel, and bring back fresh stock at lower cost by Saturday evening.”

The difference in travel time and transport costs has been transformative. Faster journeys and reduced expenses have allowed Ibrahim to expand his business. Encouraged by steady profits, he is now planning to open a second office at Pabbi Bazaar.

Ibrahim’s story reflects a wider transformation unfolding across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), where modern motorways and improved connectivity are reshaping livelihoods and local economies under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Strategically located at the crossroads of South and Central Asia, KP stands to benefit significantly from large-scale infrastructure development. Among the most important upcoming initiatives is a 42.3-kilometre link road connecting the Bannu Link Road (N-55) with the Hakla–Yarik–Dera Ismail Khan Motorway (M-14), a flagship project under CPEC’s western alignment.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/abortion-rights-and-womens-health-in-pakistan/

According to a spokesperson for the Pakhtunkhwa Highways Authority (PkHA), the project—being developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model—will provide faster and safer access to the national motorway network for residents of Bannu, Karak, Lakki Marwat and adjoining areas.

“This road will integrate southern KP with major routes leading to Islamabad and Punjab,” the spokesperson told APP. “It will boost mobility, trade and investment, while offering modern connectivity similar to other developed regions.”

Under the PPP framework, the private partner will finance, construct and operate the road, while the government may provide viability-gap funding and regulatory support. Once completed, travel across the region is expected to become smoother, significantly reducing journey times and transportation costs.

The impact of improved highways is already evident. The 285-kilometre M-14 motorway has reduced travel time between Islamabad and southern KP from more than five hours to nearly three.

“This kind of connectivity changes everything,” said Professor Dr Zialakat Malik, former chairman of the Economics Department at the University of Peshawar. “CPEC is truly a game-changer, especially for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”

He noted that southern districts of KP are rich in mineral resources, fertile agricultural land and fruit orchards. “With better roads like the N-55 Bannu link, these resources can finally reach national and international markets efficiently,” he added.

Dr Malik pointed to a major milestone achieved on September 26, when the 14th meeting of the CPEC Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) was held in Beijing. The meeting, he said, marked a shift in CPEC’s trajectory from an infrastructure-led programme to a comprehensive, productivity-driven development partnership.

“CPEC is no longer just about roads and power plants,” he explained. “It now connects infrastructure with competitiveness, industrial modernisation with human development, and growth with climate resilience.”

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/winter-vacations-ignite-grassroots-cricket-in-south-punjab/

While Phase-I of CPEC addressed energy shortages and built core infrastructure, Phase-II—often referred to as CPEC 2.0—focuses on high-quality development. This phase aligns with President Xi Jinping’s vision and Pakistan’s national transformation roadmap, URAAN Pakistan, anchored in the 5Es Framework: Exports, E-Pakistan and Innovation, Energy and Infrastructure Efficiency, Environment and Climate Resilience, and Equity and Empowerment.

Under CPEC 2.0, five interconnected corridors—growth, livelihood, innovation, green and openness—are guiding development. Special Economic Zones (SEZs) such as Rashakai, Dhabeji, Bostan and Allama Iqbal Industrial City are being positioned to attract investment in textiles, electronics, engineering goods, automobiles and agro-processing.

“These zones can help Pakistan move from low-value production to export-oriented growth,” Dr Malik said, noting the country’s ambition of becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2035.

The initiative also extends into the digital and innovation space, with cooperation in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, fintech, 5G connectivity and university–industry partnerships—offering Pakistan a chance to leapfrog into the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Equally important is the focus on green development. Renewable energy projects, climate-resilient agriculture, electric mobility and improved water management systems form the backbone of CPEC’s Green Corridor.

“For a climate-vulnerable country like Pakistan, clean energy is not a luxury—it is a survival imperative,” Dr Malik emphasised.

At its core, CPEC 2.0 places people at the centre of development. Livelihood initiatives include vocational training for youth, improved healthcare access, clean drinking water schemes, women-focused skills programmes and modernised agriculture aimed at increasing farmer incomes.

“These efforts reduce regional disparities and strengthen human security,” Dr Malik said. “Every training centre, farm project or upgraded school adds a human dimension to economic growth.”

As Pakistan and China approach the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026, the evolution of CPEC reflects a deepening partnership—one that seeks to turn connectivity into competitiveness and growth into shared prosperity.

Back in Nowshera, Ibrahim Shah’s pickup returns along the motorway by Saturday evening, carrying crates of poultry and the promise of a better future. For him—and for many entrepreneurs across KP—the road ahead looks far more hopeful, thanks to an expanding motorway network.