PM directs third-party audit of all NHA projects, seeks PPP strategy for motorways, expressways

ISLAMABAD, Oct 06 (APP):Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed that all ongoing projects of the National Highway Authority (NHA) be subjected to a third-party audit and asked for a strategy to build national highways, motorways and expressways under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode.

The prime minister issued the directives while chairing a review meeting on NHA affairs at the Prime Minister House. The meeting reviewed the progress of ongoing development work on national highways, motorways and expressways, a Prime Minister’s Office news release said.

Addressing the participants, the prime minister said improved transport connectivity was indispensable for the development and prosperity of any country. He said the government was working on a priority basis to connect remote areas with the rest of the country so that people there could have the best travel facilities and more opportunities for business and employment could be created.

The meeting was briefed on ongoing and proposed NHA projects. It was informed that the NHA’s revenue had increased from Rs 109 billion to Rs 130 billion in the last fiscal year and was expected to reach Rs 160 billion during the current financial year.

The forum was told that the NHA was funding several projects from its own revenue. Prominent among them were the Sialkot-Kharian Motorway (M-12), the Kharian-Rawalpindi Motorway (M-13), Peshawar Northern Bypass, reconstruction of the Jaglot-Skardu Road (S-1), upgradation of the Pindi Bhattian-Faisalabad Motorway (M-4), upgradation of the N-5 Multan-Lodhran section, and construction of approach roads for the Layyah-Taunsa Bridge.

The meeting was informed that work on the Pakistan Expressway (N-25) was progressing rapidly.

The participants were further told that 16 projects were in their final stages of completion and would soon be ready for inauguration. These include upgradation of the GT Road (N-5) from T-Chowk Islamabad to Bhanth; remodelling of the Islamabad Chungi No. 26 interchange on GT Road (N-5); Margalla Avenue extension (GT Road N-5 to Motorway M-1); upgradation of the Pindi Bhattian-Faisalabad Motorway (M-4); Quetta Western Bypass; Pindi Gheb-Jand Road; Bhong Interchange on the Multan-Sukkur Motorway (M-5); construction of the Nokundi-Mashkhel Road; dualisation of Old Bannu Road; dualisation of the Sann-Sehwan section and the Ratodero-Shikarpur section of the Indus Highway (N-55); and an additional carriageway on the Petaro-Sehwan section of the Indus Highway (N-55).

The meeting was also informed that foundation stones of several projects would be laid soon. These include the Kharian-Rawalpindi Motorway (M-13), Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway (M-6), rehabilitation of GT Road (N-5) Nowshera-Peshawar, reconstruction of GT Road (N-5) Rawalpindi-Hasan Abdal, rehabilitation of the National Highway (N-5) Moro-Hala section, and reconstruction of the N-5 Rani Pur-Rohri section. The forum was told that the Sialkot-Kharian Motorway (M-12) and the Kharian-Rawalpindi Motorway (M-13) were being constructed under the PPP mode.

The meeting was further briefed that the Guru Nanak Expressway, which would link Kartarpur and Nankana Sahib and connect the holy sites of the Sikh faith, was under consideration. An expressway from Mansehra to Chilas via Naran has also been proposed, which would reduce the distance between the two points by 146 kilometres.

Federal Minister for Planning, Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Communications and Postal Services, Abdul Aleem Khan, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Ahad Khan, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation, Muhammad Ali, Minister of State for Finance and Railways, Bilal Azhar Kayani and senior officials concerned attended the meeting.