ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered a third-party audit of all ongoing National Highway Authority (NHA) projects and directed officials to prepare a strategy for developing highways, motorways and expressways through public-private partnerships (PPPs).
Chairing a meeting on NHA affairs, the prime minister said improved road connectivity was important for economic activity and directed greater priority towards connecting remote areas.
The meeting was informed that NHA revenue increased to Rs130 billion in the last financial year from Rs109 billion and was projected to reach Rs160 billion this year.
The authority is using its own revenue to finance several projects, including the Sialkot-Kharian Motorway (M-12), Kharian-Rawalpindi Motorway (M-13), Peshawar Northern Bypass, reconstruction of the Jaglot-Skardu Road (S-1), upgrading of the Pindi Bhattian-Faisalabad section of the M-4, improvement of the N-5 between Multan and Lodhran and approach roads to the Layyah-Taunsa Bridge.
Officials said 16 NHA projects were in the final stages of completion. These include the N-5 upgrade from T-Chowk Islamabad to Banth, remodelling of the Islamabad-Chungi No. 26 interchange, the Margalla Avenue extension connecting GT Road with the M-1, the M-4 Pindi Bhattian-Faisalabad upgrade and the Quetta Western Bypass.
Other projects nearing completion include the Pindi Gheb-Jand Road, Bhang Interchange on the M-5, Nokundi-Mashkhel Road, dualisation of Old Bannu Road and the Sehwan-San and Ratodero-Shikarpur sections of the Indus Highway (N-55).
Work is also expected to begin soon on the M-13, Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway (M-6), rehabilitation of the N-5 between Nowshera and Peshawar, reconstruction of the N-5 between Rawalpindi and Hassan Abdal, rehabilitation of the Moro-Hala section and reconstruction of the Ranipur-Rohri section.
Officials said the Sialkot-Kharian and Kharian-Rawalpindi motorways were being developed under PPP arrangements.
The meeting also discussed the proposed Guru Nanak Expressway connecting Kartarpur and Nankana Sahib, as well as a proposed Mansehra-Chilas Expressway via Naran, which officials said could reduce the distance between the two cities by 146 kilometres.
