An important new motorway stretch has been inaugurated in Pakistan. Measuring 293km, the Hakla-Dera Ismail Khan Motorway forms a key stretch of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) western route.

This new road will help improve transport and communications between Pakistan and China, delivering a major economic boost. According to Pakistan’s prime minister, Imran Khan, Dera Ismail Khan, North Punjab, South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan will benefit in particular.

Construction of the road provided a number of technical challenges as the stretch features 36 bridges, as well as 11 interchanges, 33 flyovers and 119 underpasses. However, according to prime minister Khan this new motorway cost less to construct/km than previous links due to official measures taken to tackle corruption in Pakistan.