The federal government’s official approval of the 172-kilometer Mansehra–Kaghan–Naran–Jhal Khand–Chilas (MNJC) Motorway is being celebrated as a massive win for domestic travelers. For years, driving to beautiful places like Hunza, Skardu, and the Naran Valley meant facing narrow mountain roads, deep vertical drops, and sudden landslides on the old Karakoram Highway.
This new four-lane motorway is designed to change everything by creating a highly secure, modern highway that bypasses the most dangerous parts of the old routes. It will turn a scary mountain drive into a smooth, peaceful road trip for families.
The biggest news for travelers heading up to Gilgit-Baltistan is the construction of the 13.5-kilometer Babusar Tunnel. Currently, tourists can only visit Naran and cross over the beautiful Babusar Top during the short summer season. As soon as the heavy winter snow falls, the entire pass closes for nearly six months, completely cutting off the short path to Hunza and Skardu.
The new tunnel will go right through the mountain, keeping the road open and safe 12 months a year. This means winter tourism will finally come to Naran and Kaghan, allowing families to enjoy snow-covered valleys safely without worrying about getting stuck or sliding on ice.
A Faster, Smoother Route for Families Visiting Northern Pakistan
For regular tourists, the most exciting part of this project by the National Highway Authority is the incredible amount of time it saves. By optimizing the road alignment, the new motorway will shorten the travel distance by 120 kilometers.
A long, tiring seven-hour drive through bumpy roads will become a quick, pleasant two-hour journey. This makes weekend trips to Naran and Kaghan completely possible for families living in Islamabad or Peshawar, who previously avoided the area due to long travel times and road exhaustion.
Furthermore, the highway is being built specifically with family comfort and vehicle safety in mind. Modern rest areas will be constructed every 25 to 30 kilometers, giving families safe places to stop, use clean restrooms, and rest. To prevent heavy traffic jams, dedicated freight trucking terminals will be built at both ends of the motorway.
This ensures commercial cargo is managed smoothly, keeping the tourist lanes free from dangerous bottlenecks. The engineering also reduces steep climbs, making it highly safe for standard family cars and eliminating the need to hire local 4×4 jeeps just to cross difficult passes.
Easy Access to Gilgit-Baltistan’s Deepest Beautiful Valleys
By making the connection to Chilas fast and reliable, the MNJC Motorway serves as a beautiful, stress-free gateway to the deeper wonders of Gilgit-Baltistan. Tourists aiming for the magical landscapes of Hunza Valley or the high cold deserts of Skardu will no longer have to brave the terrifying, cliffside sections of the lower Karakoram Highway. Instead, they can cruise comfortably through the green valleys of Kaghan and Naran, go smoothly through the Babusar Tunnel, and arrive fresh in Chilas, ready for the final leg of their journey.
Tourism Access Set for Major Transformation
Current travel conditions compared with the future motorway and tunnel network planned for Northern Pakistan.
| Tourist Destination | Current Travel Experience | Future Motorway Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Naran & Kaghan | Crowded mountain roads and heavy tourist traffic during the peak June and July season. | Modern four lane motorway designed to handle larger tourist volumes with smoother traffic flow. |
| Babusar Pass | Route remains closed for nearly 5 to 6 months every year because of heavy snowfall and severe winter conditions. | Year round connectivity through the proposed 13.5 kilometre Babusar Tunnel with advanced safety systems. |
| Hunza & Skardu | Long and exhausting road journey through landslide prone mountain sections and difficult terrain. | Faster access through a new strategic corridor expected to reduce travel time by approximately 5 hours. |
What Local Businessmen Say About the New MNJC Motorway
To understand how this massive project impacts the local economy, we asked local businessmen in the valley about their reactions. Hotel owners, tour operators, and shopkeepers in Naran and Kaghan expressed great excitement and hope for the future. For decades, their business has depended entirely on a very short summer window.
They believe that a safe, fast and permanent road link will completely transform how trade and hospitality work in northern Pakistan.
Many hotel managers explained that the six-month closure of Babusar Pass forces them to shut down their properties and lay off staff during the winter. With the new 13.5-kilometer tunnel keeping the route open all year, they can finally offer winter holiday packages, bringing steady income to local families.
Shopkeepers also pointed out that a modern motorway will lower the cost of bringing food, fuel, and supplies up from Mansehra, which will help keep prices stable for both locals and tourists. Overall, the business community views the MNJC Motorway not just as a transport project, but as a crucial lifeline that will secure their financial future.
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