Lahore: Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan has approved a major administrative restructuring of the National Highway Authority, directing that the existing Punjab region be split into four new zones, South Punjab, North Punjab, Central Punjab along with a separate Lahore Region to improve oversight and performance.
Chairing a detailed review meeting at the NHA’s Lahore office, the minister examined ongoing projects in Punjab and Balochistan and announced that new NHA Members will be posted nationwide under the revised structure.
During the briefing, officials informed the minister that restoration work on the M-5 Motorway is progressing, with one side of the Jalalpur Pirwala section expected to reopen for traffic by November 30. The Member Balochistan also gave a comprehensive update on the extensive road network and projects underway in the country’s largest province by land area.
Aleem Khan underscored the need for strong accountability, saying that any financial wastage over the past year must be scrutinized. He stressed that expenditure controls are essential, noting that generating revenue is difficult while spending “takes place in the blink of an eye.”
He directed that all new toll plazas across the country be built according to a single, standardized design, and only in locations where traffic volumes can justify revenue generation. The minister also instructed the Secretary Communications to conduct weekly field inspections for better monitoring.
Calling for uniform engineering and quality standards, he pointed to ongoing work on the Islamabad–Murree Expressway as a model that should guide future NHA projects. He added that routine items like patchwork and grass cutting require clearer audit mechanisms, as these recurring tasks often lack transparent checks.
Aleem Khan urged NHA Members to formulate a unified, transparent framework to ensure that every rupee spent is properly justified. He said the goal is to transform the authority into a credible and respected national institution, free from any perception of financial misuse. Efforts, he noted, are already underway to upgrade the condition and appearance of NHA offices across the country.
The meeting was attended by the Secretary Communications and officials from the Punjab and Balochistan regions.
