Dera Ismail Khan–Zhob motorway

The Dera Ismail Khan–Zhob Motorway is a significant infrastructure project in Pakistan, forming part of the larger China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The objective of this project is to build a 210 km long motorway connecting Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Zhob in Balochistan.

Project overview
The initial part of the highway covers a 50-kilometer stretch with four lanes, commencing from Yarik on the Indus Highway and concluding at Sagu. From Sagu to Zhob, the project focuses on upgrading the current segment of the Dera Ismail Khan–Quetta Highway (N-50). Additionally, the project encompasses the development of bypasses in Darazinda and Zhob.

The government has emphasized the utmost importance of finishing all delayed CPEC projects, with a particular focus on the Dera Ismail Khan–Zhob Motorway. In December 2022, former Minister for Communications, Asad Mehmood, has expressed the intent to establish a network of contemporary highways in Balochistan, and the tender process for the Zhob-Dera Ismail Khan Motorway is nearing its conclusion.

Challenges
Although the government is dedicated to seeing the project through, it has encountered obstacles, notably landslides. In April 2023, torrential rains led to significant landslides, resulting in the closure of the highway at the Dhana Sar location in Zhob.