Islamabad: Federal Minister for Communications, Privatization and Board of Investment, Abdul Aleem Khan, announced significant upgrades to Pakistan’s motorway infrastructure, prioritizing the expansion of the Karachi to Sukkhar and Sialkot to Islamabad routes to at least six lanes. This initiative aims to accommodate future traffic needs and enhance revenue through more effective toll collection.
According to Press Information Department, the announcement came during a departmental briefing with the National Highway Authority (NHA), where Abdul Aleem Khan emphasized the need for a robust business model and operational reforms within the NHA. The minister outlined a future where no new motorways would be constructed with less than six lanes, ensuring a high-capacity network to support heavy and private transport.
Khan also stressed the importance of strict enforcement of axle load restrictions and the dismissal of corrupt and incompetent NHA staff. He suggested privatizing toll collection in areas where revenue collection is problematic to improve efficiency. The minister directed that the NHA should annually set and meet revenue targets to become financially stable and independent.
Furthermore, Khan highlighted the need for the NHA to adopt a self-reliance policy, utilizing available resources and manpower to enhance its capacity globally and generate significant foreign exchange. The briefing also shed light on the current inefficiencies in toll tax collection, with only 13% being collected from 57% of NHA-operated highways. The NHA Chairman acknowledged the need for an integrated plan to boost revenue significantly.