Shehbaz Sharif calls for independent review of ongoing highway schemes and directs authorities to expand public-private partnerships for future motorways and expressways.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered a third-party audit of all ongoing National Highway Authority (NHA) projects and directed relevant authorities to prepare a strategy for developing major highways, motorways and expressways through public-private partnerships.

Chairing a meeting on NHA affairs, the prime minister stressed that stronger road connectivity is essential for economic activity and instructed officials to give greater attention to connecting remote and less-developed areas.

The meeting was informed that NHA’s revenue increased from Rs109 billion to Rs130 billion during the last financial year. The authority is projected to generate around Rs160 billion this year, according to the briefing.

Officials said the NHA is using its own revenue to finance several major projects, including the Sialkot-Kharian Motorway (M-12), Kharian-Rawalpindi Motorway (M-13), Peshawar Northern Bypass, reconstruction of the Jaglot-Skardu Road, upgrading of the Pindi Bhattian-Faisalabad section of M-4, improvement of the Multan-Lodhran section of N-5 and approach roads to the Layyah-Taunsa Bridge.

Islamabad-Rawalpindi projects among schemes nearing completion

The briefing revealed that 16 NHA projects are in their final stages of completion. Among the important schemes are the upgrading of GT Road from T-Chowk Islamabad to Banth, remodelling of the Islamabad-Chungi No. 26 Interchange and the Margalla Avenue extension connecting GT Road with the M-1.

The list also includes the Pindi Bhattian-Faisalabad M-4 upgrade and the Quetta Western Bypass, along with several other road schemes across the country.

Work is also expected to start soon on a number of major projects, including the Kharian-Rawalpindi Motorway (M-13), Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway (M-6), rehabilitation of N-5 between Nowshera and Peshawar, reconstruction of the Rawalpindi-Hassan Abdal section of N-5, rehabilitation of the Moro-Hala section and reconstruction of the Ranipur-Rohri section.

Greater focus on PPP projects

The government is also looking to increase the use of public-private partnerships in the development of major road infrastructure. Officials confirmed that the Sialkot-Kharian and Kharian-Rawalpindi motorways are being developed under PPP arrangements.

The meeting also reviewed proposals for a Guru Nanak Expressway linking Kartarpur and Nankana Sahib, while another proposed project, the Mansehra-Chilas Expressway via Naran, could reduce the road distance between the two cities by approximately 146 kilometres.

The third-party audit ordered by the prime minister is intended to provide an independent review of ongoing NHA projects as the government moves towards stronger oversight, improved connectivity and wider private-sector participation in national road development.