Swat Motorway Phase-II construction begins

CM says project to boost connectivity, tourism

PESHAWAR:

Construction work on Swat Motorway Phase II has officially begun in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, marking a major step toward enhanced connectivity and economic growth in the Malakand region and beyond.

Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi announced the formal start of the project during a high-level meeting at the Chief Minister's House in Peshawar, attended by parliamentarians from the Malakand region. The chief minister emphasized that the completion of this flagship infrastructure initiative will significantly accelerate economic activities across the province, while providing a major boost to tourism in the scenic Swat Valley and surrounding areas.

The 80-kilometer Phase II will extend from the Chakdara Interchange to Fatehpur, incorporating nine interchanges and seven bridges over the Swat River. The project is expected to improve regional access, reduce travel times, and stimulate trade and investment.

The meeting focused on mega development projects in Malakand, the upcoming Annual Development Programme (ADP) for 2026-27, and new schemes for the area. Key decisions included prioritizing infrastructure upgrades, education, health, and communication networks.

Chief Minister Afridi directed officials to resolve pending issues in the provincial transmission line Phase II to enable full utilization of hydropower projects in the province. He also instructed authorities to expedite work on the Shaheed Arshad Sharif University of Investigative and Modern Journalism, accelerate progress on the Livestock University, and complete the Engineering University under the DF&C scheme without delay.

The chief minister stressed the need to ensure timely completion of near-finished mega projects and immediate ground implementation of new schemes so that people can benefit from development initiatives as quickly as possible.

In the health sector, the meeting agreed in principle to upgrade various hospitals in Malakand according to their needs, with public health improvement declared a top government priority.

Afridi announced that dedicated royalty accounts will be established to ensure funds from royalties are spent directly on development in the relevant districts, further promoting local progress.

The meeting gave in-principle approval to several other important projects, including the Rustam-Ambela Road, Barawal-Mastuj Road, Dir Cadet College, Talash Bypass, and Chitral Nursing College. These are expected to be included in the upcoming development program.

The chief minister directed parliamentarians to identify priority development schemes for their constituencies by March 15, with follow-up meetings to begin the following week to ensure effective planning and implementation.

This push for accelerated infrastructure development underscores the provincial government's commitment to transforming less-developed areas through targeted investments in connectivity, education, health, and energy.