ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday ordered a third-party audit of all ongoing National Highway Authority (NHA) projects and directed officials to devise a strategy for developing highways, motorways and expressways through public-private partnerships (PPPs).
Chairing a meeting to review NHA affairs, the prime minister said improved road connectivity was important for economic activity and directed the authorities to give greater priority to linking remote areas.
The meeting was told that NHA revenue had increased from Rs109 billion to Rs130 billion during the last financial year and was projected to reach Rs160 billion this year.
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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 upgrading of the GT Road (N-5) from T-Chowk Islamabad to Banth, remodelling of the Islamabad-Chungi No. 26 interchange, the Margalla Avenue extension linking the GT Road with the M-1, the M-4 Pindi Bhattian-Faisalabad upgrade and the Quetta Western Bypass.
Other schemes nearing completion include the Pindi Gheb-Jand Road, Bhang Interchange on the M-5, Nokundi-Mashkhel Road, dualisation of Old Bannu Road and sections of the Indus Highway (N-55), including the Sehwan-San and Ratodero-Shikarpur sections.
The meeting was also told that work would soon begin on several major schemes, including 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.
The Sialkot-Kharian and Kharian-Rawalpindi motorways are being developed under PPP arrangements, officials said.
The meeting also discussed a proposed Guru Nanak Expressway connecting the Sikh holy sites of Kartarpur and Nankana Sahib.
Officials said another proposed scheme, the Mansehra-Chilas Expressway via Naran, could shorten the distance between the two cities by 146 kilometres.
Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Communications Minister Aleem Khan, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, the prime minister’s adviser on privatisation Muhammad Ali, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Kayani and senior officials attended the meeting.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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