Peshawar: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has approved the long-delayed Margalla Hills twin tunnels project, which will directly connect Khanpur and Haripur in Hazara with Islamabad, reducing travel time to as little as 15 minutes.
The project has been included in the province’s Annual Development Programme (ADP) 2025, with PKR 1 billion earmarked for the first year under a public-private partnership model. Construction is scheduled to begin in December 2025 and conclude by December 25, 2028.
According to officials, the two tunnels will be built to international standards, fully illuminated, and linked with Islamabad’s D-12 sector, providing direct access to the Hazara Motorway (M-15). Once completed, the project will cut the Haripur–Islamabad distance to just eight kilometres.
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) will extend cooperation for the initiative, while the Hazara Development Authority confirmed that a feasibility study has already been completed.
The scheme has faced nearly two decades of delays due to funding shortages and frequent changes in government. However, provincial officials stressed that even without federal government participation, they are determined to push ahead.
“The Margalla Hills twin tunnels will transform connectivity between Hazara and Islamabad, unlocking major economic and travel benefits,” a senior official said.
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