The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has approved a long-awaited project to construct two twin tunnels through the Margalla Hills, directly linking Khanpur and Haripur in Hazara with Islamabad.
According to officials, once completed, the tunnels will reduce the distance between Haripur and Islamabad to just eight kilometres, cutting travel time to around 10 to 15 minutes. The project has been formally included in K-P’s Annual Development Programme 2025.
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Construction is scheduled to begin in December 2025 and finish by December 25, 2028. The tunnels, designed to international standards, will include full illumination and modern safety features. They will connect the M-15 Motorway to Islamabad’s D-12 sector, providing direct access to the Hazara Motorway.
The K-P government has approved the scheme under a public-private partnership model, with Rs1 billion allocated for the first year. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is also expected to extend cooperation, while a feasibility study for the project has already been completed.
Sources in the Hazara Development Authority said the project has faced delays for nearly two decades due to financial constraints and frequent political changes.
Despite these hurdles, officials have stressed that the tunnels will be completed even without federal funding. They described the recent approval as a major step forward, adding that progress in discussions with the federal government has also been encouraging.
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