ISLAMABAD, September 7, 2026: The federal government has selected seven roads spanning a combined 464 kilometres in Gilgit-Baltistan for transfer to federal control under the Prime Minister’s tourism initiative, according to official documents.
The proposal covers the construction, expansion, rehabilitation and long-term maintenance of selected road networks in the mountainous region, with the aim of improving connectivity and supporting tourism development.
According to the documents, the selected roads include the 54-kilometre Astore–Chilam Chowki Road, 31-kilometre Deosai–Skardu Road, 100-kilometre Skardu–Khaplu Road, 17-kilometre Skardu (Thorgo)–Shigar Road, and 36-kilometre KKH–Naltar to Satrangi Lake Road.
The remaining two routes are the 121-kilometre Thalichi–Astore–Ratu–Shounter Road and the 105-kilometre Goreikot–Shagarthang–Skardu Road. Construction work is currently underway on both routes.
The seven selected roads have a combined length of 464 kilometres, covering several strategically important tourism and connectivity corridors across Gilgit-Baltistan.
The proposal has already been approved by the Gilgit-Baltistan Cabinet, while a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been shared with the National Highway Authority (NHA) for further proceedings.
The proposed federal takeover is aimed at ensuring coordinated development, rehabilitation and long-term maintenance of the selected roads under the Prime Minister’s tourism initiative.
Improved road infrastructure is expected to strengthen access to some of Gilgit-Baltistan’s major tourist destinations, facilitate movement of visitors and local communities, and support the region’s growing tourism potential.
The initiative also highlights the strategic importance of sustainable and reliable transport infrastructure in one of Pakistan’s most environmentally sensitive and geographically challenging regions.
