ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan has said that Murree Expressway (N-75) will be extended by 70 kilometres to reach Muzaffarabad.
The federal minister stated this while chairing a high-level meeting of the National Highway Authority (NHA) on Thursday. This expansion will effectively connect Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to Pakistan’s main motorway and expressway network, providing the residents of Kashmir with a modern, high-speed, and safe travel motorway facility.
Abdul Aleem Khan emphasized that the construction of the Murree-Muzaffarabad Expressway marks the beginning of a modern era of safe transit for the people of Kashmir, noting that the population of Azad Kashmir deserves the same high-calibre motorway facilities enjoyed by people in the rest of the country.
During the meeting, the minister reviewed the authority’s financial close and mapped out strategic infrastructure priorities for the current fiscal year. In a decision aimed at boosting regional connectivity,
To ensure maximum efficiency across the board, the minister issued strict directives to the NHA management to prioritise the completion of existing infrastructure over launching new ventures. He specifically mentioned that during the current fiscal year, the NHA must focus its resources heavily on completing 25 ongoing priority projects before shifting focus to new initiatives.
Among these critical routes, Abdul Aleem Khan emphasised the completion of the M-8 Motorway, directing that the Hoshab-Awaran Road and the Awaran-Nal project should be fast-tracked.
He noted that these specific south-western corridors are absolutely vital for scaling up bilateral trade with neighbouring Iran, as well as unlocking the tourism potential of the region, making the timely construction of these highways completely indispensable. Reviewing the NHA’s long-term financial health, he also outlined a bold vision to transform the authority into a powerhouse of financial self-reliance. He stated that the NHA will be restructured to generate PKR 300-400 billion annually from its own internal revenue streams rather than relying on federal government funding.
The meeting concluded after detailed briefings from the Federal Secretary for Communications and the Chairman of the NHA regarding the organisation’s fiscal closeout and strategic operational roadmap.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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