FAISALABAD, Oct 31 (APP):Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan has unveiled an ambitious plan to transform the National Highway Authority (NHA) into a financially self-reliant institution, enabling it to undertake major road infrastructure projects across the country as NHA’s annual revenue has increased from Rs66 billion to Rs164 billion during the past two-and-a-half years.
Addressing a gathering of business leaders and industrialists at Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) here on Saturday, he said that the government was restructuring NHA under a new business model to generate its own resources and reconstruct major national highways across the country over the next decade.
He said that sustainable development could not depend entirely on government allocations, but it required institutions to strengthen their own financial capacity.
He said that the NHA’s enhanced revenue had already enabled it to undertake several major road projects while the authority was utilizing its own funds for the expansion of Faisalabad-Pindi Bhattian Motorway (M-4).
Three contractors were working at a fast pace on this project from expanding M-4 motorway from four to six lanes while an additional rest area would also be established along this route.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would inaugurate the expanded motorway in December, he added.
He said that expansion of M-4 would cost approximately Rs15 billion which the NHA would finance from its own resources. This project would facilitate the movement of passengers and commercial traffic in addition to improving connectivity for Faisalabad which is one of the country’s major industrial and export centers, he added.
Explaining financial challenges confronting the authority, Abdul Aleem Khan said that although Rs230 billion had been allocated to the NHA under Public Sector Development Program (PSDP), yet it had actually received only Rs160 billion, out of which Rs112 billion was being spent on road projects in Balochistan.
The NHA required around Rs3,000 billion to complete its 66 ongoing projects, highlighting the need to mobilize additional resources through an effective business model.
“Only talks and speeches cannot deliver development; practical work is required”, he said, adding that the country could not rely entirely on government funding rather it must move towards self-reliance.
He thanked the nation for contributing to the increase in NHA’s revenue, saying that the improved financial position had made it possible to initiate multiple development projects simultaneously.
He said that NHA could potentially undertake projects worth Rs2,000 billion if its annual financial capacity was raised to Rs500 billion, opening up greater opportunities for the development of an integrated national road network.
Referring to other major infrastructure initiatives, he said that Multan-Lodhran Expressway was expected to be completed by December this year while the NHA had allocated Rs15 billion as its share in the Sambrial-Kharian Motorway project.
He also announced plans to develop Lahore-Sialkot-Kharian-Rawalpindi motorway corridor into a six-lane network to ensure faster and safer transportation.
He said that Peshawar Bypass was being constructed at a cost of Rs5 billion, which would divert traffic away from the city and provide relief to residents.
Referring to the development situation in Layyah and Taunsa, he pointed out that although a bridge over the river had been constructed there over the past decade, yet the allocation of Rs10 billion for connecting roads had not been utilized, affecting the completion of wider road network.
The federal minister emphasized that strict implementation of the axle-load policy would remain a priority to protect national highways and motorways from premature damage.
A road designed to bear 30 tons could not be subjected to the pressure of vehicles carrying 100 tons, he said, adding that overloading not only damaged road infrastructure but also increased maintenance costs and ultimately affected transporters themselves.
He said that Motorway Police had been given strict instructions to take action against those burning materials along highways particularly in the areas where such practices contributed to environmental pollution and smog.
The minister said that NHA would also ensure compliance with regulations concerning green areas along motorways and promote plantation to improve the environment.
Highlighting the government’s focus on tourism-related infrastructure, he said that NHA would give priority to the construction and improvement of tourist roads in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Describing Murree Expressway as a model road, he said that its extension towards Muzaffarabad was also being pursued to improve regional connectivity and facilitate tourism.
He said that Nankana Expressway would be developed as a gift for Sikh community to promote international religious tourism while the proposed Kartarpur-Nankana road and other related infrastructure would further improve access to important religious destinations.
The minister said that a major road connectivity initiative was being planned from Karachi Port through an eight-lane motorway, ensuring that heavy goods vehicles could travel to and from the port without entering the city. This would ease Karachi’s traffic congestion and improve the transportation of export and import consignments, he added.
He announced that work on Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway was expected to begin next month while this project is targeted for completion within two years.
He described the motorway as vital for business community throughout Pakistan particularly for improving access between ports, industrial centers and commercial markets.
Abdul Aleem Khan further said that Mansehra-Naran-Kaghan-Jalkhand-Chilas road would be connected towards China, creating new opportunities for tourism, trade and regional economic cooperation.
He said that improved road links would save time and money of the business community, attract investment and strengthen Pakistan’s access to Central Asian states.
Earlier, FCCI President Arif Ehsan Malik welcomed the federal minister and highlighted the chamber’s role as a representative platform of the business community, comprising more than 20,000 members and over 128 trade bodies.
He said that the chamber was committed to serving industrialists and traders through regular, free and transparent democratic elections.
Appreciating the commencement of work on Pindi Bhattian interchange project, he appealed the federal minister to ensure its completion by the end of December, saying that it would reduce travelling time and distance between Faisalabad and other regions.
He also called for construction of an interchange connecting Satiana Road with M-3 Motorway, describing it as essential for industrial growth and commercial expansion.
He said that a recycling industry was already operating in Satiana Road area while a proposal to develop it as Pakistan’s “Circular City” was under consideration. This initiative could attract foreign investors and organizations associated with the European Green Deal, making improved road connectivity indispensable.
Arif Ehsan Malik stressed that uninterrupted access to seaports was critical for Faisalabad’s exports and imports, recalling that transport strikes in the past had left freight vehicles stranded for several days, causing substantial losses to national exports.
He appealed the government to formulate a clear policy and make special arrangements to ensure the uninterrupted movement of export consignments during such situations.
He also stressed the need for proper maintenance of safety barriers along motorways, improved plantation, transparency in toll policies and advance notification of toll tax increases to enable transporters and industrialists to plan their expenses.
Regarding axle-load regulations, he proposed installing effective weighing systems at motorway entry points so that overloaded vehicles could be required to unload excess cargo before proceeding further.
FCCI President also drew attention to crop-residue burning near motorways, suggesting that the relevant staff identify such locations and share information with concerned authorities for timely action against violators. The measure would improve motorists’ safety and support the government’s anti-smog campaign, he added.
He also requested the Ministry of Communications to appoint a focal person for regular coordination with FCCI so that business-related proposals and complaints could be conveyed to the relevant authorities without delay.
He called for strengthening motorway helplines to provide travelers with timely information about road closures, restoration and weather conditions.
Former President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) Mian Muhammad Adrees said that Pakistan already had a reasonably good connectivity network but further improvements were needed to facilitate trade and industry.
He proposed establishing a toll plaza on Satiana Road to reduce travelling distance between Faisalabad and Lahore, adding that outstanding issues between the Punjab and federal governments needed to be resolved to move the proposal forward.
FCCI Group Leader and former president Mian Javed Iqbal described the minister’s address as encouraging at a time when the business community was facing economic challenges.
Appreciating the completion of M-4 project, he appealed the minister to help secure connectivity between Satiana Road and M-3 Motorway, suggesting a joint meeting with Punjab government to resolve the matter.
He also proposed leasing land alongside motorways to private sector for solar panel installations, saying that this initiative could contribute to meeting the country’s energy requirements while generating additional revenue for the NHA.
During question-answer session, former FCCI presidents Rana Muhammad Sikandar Azam Khan, Syed Zia Alamdar Hussain, Rehan Naseem Bharara, Engineer Rizwan Ashraf, Mian Tanveer Riaz and Sanaullah Niazi raised various issues concerning road infrastructure, trade and business connectivity.
FCCI Senior Vice President Mian Muhammad Saeed, Vice President Muhammad Yasin, Secretary General Muhammad Ayub, former provincial minister Mian Khalid Mahmood and MPA Shoaib Siddiqui were also present.
Later, Vice President FCCI Muhammad Yasin thanked the federal minister and other guests while Mian Muhammad Adrees accompanied by FCCI President Arif Ehsan Malik and Mian Javed Iqbal presented an honorary shield to Abdul Aleem Khan.
The minister also recorded his remarks in the FCCI Visitors’ Book and posed for a group photograph with chamber members.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
