Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan has directed the National Highway Authority (NHA) to accelerate work on five major highway projects, including M-6, M-10, and the Naran-Kaghan route.
The decision was made during a high-level meeting chaired by the minister to review the progress of key infrastructure developments across the country.
According to an official statement, the NHA will invest Rs150 billion from its resources during the current fiscal year to construct new highways. A significant portion — Rs100 billion — has been allocated specifically for the Karachi-Quetta-Chaman (N-25) project in Balochistan, which is expected to begin swiftly.
Abdul Aleem Khan emphasized that future motorway projects will only be built with a minimum of six lanes to ensure long-term efficiency and capacity. He also reaffirmed the government's commitment to executing all new highway projects under the public-private partnership (PPP) model to attract private sector investment.
“The NHA’s revenue growth is a positive sign. With enhanced financial resources, it’s time to deliver results. The people deserve better, safer, and more modern road infrastructure,” the minister stated.
The meeting set ambitious targets for the completion of priority projects, aiming for at least 90% progress within the current year. It was also announced that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will personally inaugurate the near-complete projects once milestones are achieved.
In addition to projects in Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan, the federal minister approved all pending proposals for Gilgit-Baltistan. He stressed the importance of equitable development across all four provinces, instructing that project priorities be maintained according to regional needs.
The NHA has also been tasked with finalizing new financial plans and feasibility studies for upcoming road projects. During a briefing on the Lahore-Kasur road, it was clarified that the route has no link to Raiwind, addressing concerns raised by various quarters.
The meeting was attended by the federal secretary for communications, the NHA chairman, and other senior officials.
