Highways are essential for trade and the transportation of goods and people. Most of the highways in Pakistan run parallel to the railway routs as for example. the road goes from Karachi to Lahore and then onwards to Peshawar. The famous Grand Trunk Road run from Lahore to Peshawar and then onward to the Khyber Pass and Afghanistan. it was built by Sher Shah Suri in the 16th century.
The most important road between Karachi and Quetta is the highway that goes through Bela and Khuzdar. Another highway, which runs parallel to the railway tracks, goes from Quetta to Iran. The government has also planned the construction of the Indus Highway, which will run from Karachi to Peshawar, Keeping west of the Indus River. It will pass through Dadu, Dera Ghazi Khan, Dera Ismail Khan and Bannu. It is an ambitious and important project.
The Karakoram Highway is also important strategically and economically. It connects Pakistan with China through the Khunjareb Pass. It begins from Hasan Abdal and moves northward through Havelian, Dasu and Chilas. it crosses the Karakoram Range with spectacular glaciers overlooking the road from both sides. It is a real engineering feat and was built with the collaboration of China. It is 806 kilometers in length.