Islamabad, December 19, 2025: The Senate Standing Committee on Communications, chaired by Senator Pervaiz Rasheed, convened at Parliament House to review ongoing and planned road infrastructure projects across Pakistan. Federal Minister for Communications, Abdul Aleem Khan, briefed the committee on initiatives related to motorways, highways, service areas, and other road networks.
The Minister highlighted that the National Highway Authority (NHA) has seen its annual revenue rise from Rs. 66.8 billion—stagnant for six years—to Rs. 108.9 billion since June 2024, a 63 percent increase, attributing the growth to reforms including the M-Tag system expansion, axle load management, and toll plaza improvements. He projected that NHA revenue could reach Rs. 400–500 billion by the end of his tenure, with next year’s income exceeding PSDP allocations.
Mr. Khan also outlined infrastructure upgrades, including air ambulance services on all national highways by 2026, new service areas every 20–25 km, and expansion of key motorways such as Sialkot–Lahore and Lahore–Sialkot from four to six lanes. Ongoing and planned projects discussed included the Mansehra–Kaghan Highway, Sukkur–Hyderabad Motorway (in five phases), and Hyderabad–Karachi Motorway linked to Karachi Port. Feasibility studies for major projects including Kharian–Rawalpindi, Sialkot–Kharian, and Chitral–Shandoor were completed, with PC-Is for several projects forwarded for ECNEC approval.
Tourism-focused initiatives were also addressed, with discussions underway to transfer mountainous roads in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to NHA for quality infrastructure development. Upgrades to the Murree–Islamabad Expressway, Lyari Expressway, and Lahore’s Thokar Niaz Baig–Ring Road section were highlighted, alongside new service areas on Murree Expressway.
Senator Hidayatullah raised concerns over congestion and accidents on Chakdara–Timergara and Chitral–Shandur roads, which the Minister assured would be promptly addressed. The meeting also touched on Ring Road and Park View issues, and while a brief disagreement occurred between the Federal Minister and Senator Palwasha Khan, the matter was resolved following an apology. Remaining agenda items were deferred to the next session.
The meeting was attended by Senators Dost Ali Jaseer, Jam Saifullah Khan, Hidayatullah Khan, Bilal Ahmed Mandokhail, Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, Secretary Communications, and senior ministry officials.
