ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Communications, Abdul Aleem Khan, has declared that delays in the National Highway Authority’s (NHA) development projects will no longer be tolerated. While presiding over a key meeting of the NHA, he issued a final warning to concerned officers and directed them to accelerate the pace of work.
During the session, a comprehensive review of ongoing development projects was conducted.
The minister emphasized that there will be zero tolerance for delays and instructed officials to fulfill their responsibilities without expecting further extensions.
He warned that negligence or inefficiency would result in strict disciplinary action.
Abdul Aleem Khan informed the meeting that several major NHA projects will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister.
He directed the construction of rest areas on the Murree Expressway and urged the swift and high-quality completion of the Lyari Expressway.
Additionally, he instructed authorities to ensure that the main highway connecting Gwadar is completed by March 2026.
Reports were presented on various projects, including M-8, Lyari Expressway, and the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhand road.
The minister stressed the need to expedite work on critical highways in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh.
He also ordered indiscriminate action against illegal encroachments, and a progress report on ongoing removal operations was submitted during the meeting.
Over the past year, Balochistan has witnessed significant progress in highway development aimed at improving regional connectivity and boosting trade routes. Key projects include:
M-8 Motorway (Ratodero–Gwadar Section): Substantial construction work has been carried out to complete this strategic corridor linking Gwadar to the national motorway network.
Khuzdar–Basima Highway (N-30): This route, critical for the CPEC western alignment, has seen major upgrades and expansion.
Hoshab–Awaran–Khuzdar Road: Part of the Gwadar connectivity plan, this road has been under active development with the aim of completion by mid-2025.
Quetta Western Bypass & Quetta–Zhob Dualization (N-50): These projects aim to ease traffic congestion and strengthen north-south connectivity.
Coastal Highway Improvements (N-10): Stretching from Gwadar to Karachi, the coastal highway has undergone repair and widening to support growing commercial traffic.
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These projects are crucial for economic uplift, access to remote areas, and enhancing security logistics in Balochistan.
