Expenditure capped at Rs50bn: NHA revenue target raised to Rs160bn: Aleem
LAHORE: Federal Minister for Communications Aleem Khan has said the National Highway Authority (NHA) is targeting Rs160 billion in revenue this year, up from Rs66 billion, while keeping expenditure capped at Rs50 billion to finance road infrastructure development through self-generated resources.
Addressing a meeting at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Saturday, he said additional revenue from toll taxes and other sources would be used to construct new roads and upgrade existing infrastructure across the country.
The minister discussed major road projects, the NHA’s financial sustainability, regional connectivity and measures to address concerns raised by the business community.
He said a substantial portion of the NHA’s income was spent on salaries, routine maintenance and emergency repairs to roads and bridges damaged by floods, limiting the resources available for development. He also referred to Rs224 billion allocated for ongoing projects under the 2024 Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), noting that a major share was intended for national highway projects in Balochistan.
Highlighting key infrastructure initiatives, Aleem Khan said work was underway on a proposed route to reduce the distance between Lahore and Islamabad from approximately 380 kilometres to 280 kilometres. The project would improve connectivity for Gujranwala, Gujrat, Lalamusa, Kharian and Jhelum, cutting travel time from around three and a half hours to two and a half hours. It was being pursued for completion by next year.
He said additional revenue generated through toll taxes had helped make the Faisalabad road project possible, which otherwise might have remained delayed for several years. He also recalled the hazardous conditions on the previous road and the risks faced by Motorway Police personnel while managing traffic and accidents.
The minister said the Sialkot Motorway was being expanded from four to six lanes, with an additional Rs10 billion committed from the NHA’s own resources for the project.
He added that the Lahore–Khyber Motorway project was targeted for completion in 2027 and would improve connectivity towards Khyber. The Balochistan Expressway, meanwhile, was intended to improve access to remote areas and reduce road safety risks, with completion expected by the end of next year.
Turning to the business community’s concerns, Aleem Khan said he had submitted proposals to the prime minister to facilitate businesses and address difficulties faced by the industrial sector. He urged banks to consider rescheduling loans of industrialists affected by high interest rates to help revive closed industrial units and restore economic activity.
Running businesses with borrowing costs as high as 25 percent was extremely difficult, he said, stressing the need for measures to ease financial pressure on industry.
The minister assured business representatives that their proposals and concerns would be conveyed to the prime minister and that he would make every effort to resolve matters falling within his jurisdiction. He said facilitating businesses was essential to strengthening the national economy.
LCCI President Ali Hussam Asghar called for amendments to business-related laws to facilitate traders and industrialists. He said regulatory enforcement should promote compliance rather than unnecessarily disrupt commercial and industrial activities.
He also urged the NHA to consult major chambers of commerce before increasing toll taxes, noting that higher toll charges raised freight and transportation costs and ultimately affected business competitiveness.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026