New 42km Road Connects Bannu to M-14 Motorway
The Pakhtunkhwa Highways Authority (PKHA) has launched a public tender to construct a 42.3-kilometre link road connecting the Bannu Link Road on N-55 with the Hakla-Yarik-Dera Ismail Khan Motorway (M-14), part of the western alignment of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
This project represents a significant milestone in integrating the southern and central districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the national motorway network.
According to an official statement, Chief Minister Suhail Afridi has directed the initiative to provide residents of Bannu, Karak, Lakki Marwat, and surrounding areas with safer, faster, and more convenient travel. The new link will offer direct access to M-14 and onward connections to Islamabad, Mianwali, Rawalpindi, and key cities in Punjab.
The project will be developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, with the private partner responsible for financing, construction, and operations. The PKHA may provide viability-gap funding and other support to facilitate the project.
Officials noted that the southern belt of KP will benefit from modern connectivity similar to other parts of the country. The road is expected to enhance mobility, strengthen regional trade, and encourage investment.
Once completed, the link will streamline travel within the region and integrate southern districts effectively with the national highway and motorway network. The initiative is designed not only to improve public transport infrastructure but also to stimulate economic growth and commercial activity in the region.
The M-14 Motorway, inaugurated on January 5, 2022, already reduced travel time between Islamabad and southern KP from roughly five hours on older routes to about three hours. This new 42-kilometre link will further optimize travel efficiency and connectivity across the province.