Islamabad: Federal Minister for Communications, Privatization and Board of Investment Abdul Aleem Khan has mandated an investigation into the theft and damage of safety fences along the nation’s motorways. He emphasized that future incidents of such nature would be intolerable and that those responsible would face consequences.

According to a statement by Press Information Department, the directive was given during a briefing session of the National Highway Authority. Minister Khan highlighted the necessity of expanding the Kharian to Islamabad motorway from four lanes to six, focusing on accommodating future traffic needs. He underscored the importance of maintaining stringent safety and security standards across all motorways, urging the National Highway Authority (NHA) to establish a comprehensive policy to uphold these standards.

Additionally, Minister Khan has ordered the rapid completion of repair work on all motorways nationwide. He called for the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) within a week for the establishment of new interchanges, urging the NHA to create a uniform policy accessible on its website.

The N-25 Highway, connecting Quetta to Karachi, was declared a top priority by Minister Khan, who stressed its significance to the country and the necessity for its swift completion. During the high-level meeting, various policy issues were discussed, including the provision of access to Islamabad Airport from the M-1 Motorway. The meeting also covered ongoing projects in different provinces and budget allocations, with Minister Khan providing final approvals on several issues.