Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan says the National Highway Authority’s annual revenue has climbed from Rs.66 billion to Rs.164 billion since he took charge of the ministry. Speaking to members of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), he said the extra income is being used to fund development projects across the country.
Khan told the gathering that progress depends on practical action and hard work rather than announcements, and that resolving the concerns of business owners remains one of his priorities.
Motorway schemes and new highway links under way
During his visit, the minister outlined ongoing and planned road projects, including work on the M-4 Motorway and major links joining key commercial centres. He said three contractors are working on the Faisalabad-Pindi Bhattian section of the M-4, a project paid for entirely from the authority’s own resources. A further rest area is also to be built along the motorway.
Khan said the Multan-Lodhran Expressway is expected to be completed by December 2026, and that the NHA has contributed Rs.15 billion to the Sambrial-Kharian Motorway. He also announced plans for a six-lane motorway network linking Lahore, Sialkot, Kharian and Rawalpindi.
Funding limits and the axle-load policy
The minister said the NHA is spending Rs.112 billion on road infrastructure in Balochistan alone. He added that finishing 66 projects under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) would require Rs.3,000 billion.
With government funds in short supply, the authority must strengthen its own finances to keep development work moving, he said. “Government handouts alone will not suffice; we must move forward through our own efforts and strengthen our resources,” he said.
Khan also pointed to the Peshawar Bypass, a Rs.5 billion project meant to ease congestion and offer an alternative route for traffic passing through the city. He warned that the government would strictly enforce the axle-load policy to protect national highways, noting that roads designed for a maximum of 30 tonnes cannot be allowed to carry vehicles weighing 100 tonnes.
Tourist routes and the proposed Karachi motorway
The NHA would prioritise tourist highways in Gilgit-Baltistan, Khan said. The plans include extending the Murree Expressway towards Muzaffarabad and Mansehra, the proposed Nankana Expressway, and the Mansehra-Naran-Kaghan-Jalkhand-Chilas road project.
He said the Nankana Expressway would benefit the Sikh community and attract religious and international visitors, while the Chilas road would improve links to the Chinese border and support regional trade.
Khan described the proposed motorway connecting Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur as especially important for businesses across Pakistan. An eight-lane route would begin at Karachi Port, allowing heavy vehicles to avoid congested urban areas. Work on the Hyderabad-Sukkur section was expected to start the following month, with completion targeted within two years.
Better highways, he said, would lower transport costs and travel times, encourage investment and improve access to Central Asian markets. He also said the NHA could become financially self-sustaining, with an annual capacity of Rs.500 billion that would enable projects worth Rs.2,000 billion.
A proposal to plant fruit-bearing trees along motorways, using leased designated land, is also under consideration. The initiative could generate additional revenue while improving the environment, he said.
Pakistan Post faces deficit and staffing pressure
Khan also raised concern about the finances of Pakistan Post. He said the organisation has around 22,000 employees and an annual deficit of Rs.14 billion, and that a further 4,000 staff had recently been added, increasing financial pressure.
Efforts are underway to digitise Pakistan Post, reduce losses and introduce a new business plan to make it financially sustainable. Khan reiterated that the government is committed to addressing the concerns of the business community and improving infrastructure to support industrial and commercial activity.
