Islamabad:Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has directed the National Highway Authority (NHA) to accelerate the development of key national highways and motorways, emphasizing the need for transparent and efficient use of public funds.
According to Radio Pakistan, during a meeting held to assess ongoing NHA projects under the Public Sector Development Programme, it was revealed that significant progress has been made on several major road projects. The Shandur-Gilgit Road project, spanning 216 kilometers and costing approximately fifty billion rupees, has reached 67.33 percent completion. Meanwhile, the Chitral-Booni Mastuj-Shandur Road project, measuring 153 kilometers and costing over 17 billion rupees, has achieved 40 percent progress.
The Karachi-Quetta-Chaman Road (N-25) dualization and rehabilitation project, which covers 273 kilometers with a budget exceeding 183 billion rupees, has achieved 19.25 percent completion. The Minister highlighted the need to expedite work on this crucial corridor, including the Karachi-Kararo and Wadh-Khuzdar sections, to enhance connectivity and trade.
On the Indus Highway front, the Shikarpur-Rajanpur Additional Carriageway Project on N-55, stretching 221.9 kilometers and costing more than 44 billion rupees, has reached 62 percent completion. Conversely, the Rajanpur-Dera Ghazi Khan section of N-55, spanning 121.5 kilometers and costing over 63 billion rupees, faces delays due to land acquisition and resettlement issues.
Further developments include the Dera Ghazi Khan-Dera Ismail Khan section of N-55, a 208.19-kilometer project costing around 111 billion rupees, which has been awarded, with contractors currently mobilizing. The Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway (M-6), extending 306 kilometers with a PC-I cost of 363 billion rupees, and the Lowari Tunnel’s electrical and mechanical works, costing over 33 billion rupees, are in the procurement stage.
Ahsan Iqbal has instructed the relevant authorities to eliminate procedural hurdles and expedite procurement processes to ensure progress on these vital projects. Additionally, he reviewed the 210-kilometer dualization and improvement of the N-50 from Yarik through Sagu to Zhob, including the Zhob Bypass, which, at a cost of over 76 billion rupees, has achieved 10 percent progress. He emphasized the need to accelerate this project and address financial and administrative constraints.
The Minister stressed the importance of completing the M-6 Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway, the N-55 Indus Highway, the N-25 Karachi-Quetta-Chaman corridor, and the Quetta-Zhob road network in a timely manner, citing their significance for economic growth, trade, and regional connectivity.
