The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through Pakhtunkhwa Highways Authority, has planned undertaking the construction of "Swat Expressway", a 90 kilometers long, high speed, fenced, 4-lane Expressway (the Project). The planned Expressway forms part of trade corridor commencing from Kernal Sher Khan Interchange at M-1 Motorway and terminating at Chakdara Intersection at National Highway N-45 (Malakand Agency).

The proposed Expressway will provide alternate route for District Swat, Dir Lower, Dir Upper, Shangla, Malakand Agency, Bajour Agency and other parts of Malakand region promoting interconnectivity with developed regions of the country. It will attract most of the through traffic of Swat, Dir and other upper areas, thus, will reduce traffic congestions and road accidents on the existing National Highway N-45 that passes through built-up towns of Rashakai, Mardan, Takhtbai, Shergah, Sakhakot, Dargai and Batkhela.

In a high level meeting, chaired by Chief Minister KPK, held in December 2014, it was decided that Swat Expressway may, presently, be constructed as 4-lane (2x2), controlled access facility, with extendable provision of converting into 6-lanes (3x3) Expressway to cater for future transportation needs.

It was further decided that the project shall be implemented under Public Private Partnership (PPP) on Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis and for the purpose Financial and Commercial Feasibility should be carried out.