Islamabad: Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan announced that all future motorways in Pakistan will be constructed with no less than six lanes, setting a new standard for the country’s infrastructure, as reported on August 29.
As per details, this directive was made during a departmental briefing with the National Highways Authority (NHA), where senior officials, including the NHA chairman and the federal secretary for communications, were present.
The minister emphasized that the motorways from Karachi to Sukkur and Sialkot to Kharian to Islamabad are top priorities for the NHA. He instructed that these routes must include at least three lanes on each side to meet future traffic demands.
Khan highlighted the importance of developing a robust network of high-quality roads and highways, urging the NHA to maximize revenue through the construction of toll plazas for heavy traffic, public, and private transport. He also stressed the enforcement of axle load limits on these roads, emphasizing that violations would not be tolerated.
Addressing the issue of revenue collection, Khan suggested that areas facing challenges could benefit from privatizing toll collection. He directed the NHA to set annual revenue targets, which would not only enhance the institution’s efficiency and revenue but also contribute to its financial independence.
The minister underscored the importance of self-reliance, noting that relying solely on government funds is not sustainable. Instead, the NHA must utilize its available resources, professional skills, and manpower to become a financially stable and independent entity. Improving transportation infrastructure remains a key priority, Khan added, as does developing a business model aligned with modern requirements. By introducing a new vision for the NHA, Pakistan could expand its global capacity, offering expert services to other countries and generating significant foreign exchange, thereby elevating the reputation of Pakistani institutions.
In his briefing to the minister, the NHA chairman acknowledged the current challenges, revealing that only 13% of toll tax is being collected from 57% of the NHA’s highways—a situation that urgently requires an integrated plan to boost revenue. He assured that a process of refinement has begun in response to the minister’s directives, with both short- and long-term policy measures under consideration.
