A high-level meeting of the National Highway Authority (NHA) was held under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan during which a coordinated and actionable strategy was approved to upgrade rest areas and public facilities across the country’s Motorways.
Federal Minister expressed dissatisfaction over the existing conditions, stating that it is unacceptable to collect toll taxes from citizens without ensuring high-quality facilities in return. Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan directed that all Motorways must be equipped with international-standard washrooms, rest areas and essential amenities.
He emphasized that NHA must adopt a uniform standard for rest areas nationwide and action should be taken without discrimination against any negligence or failure of duty.
He added that citizens should have access to high quality ablution and restroom facilities across all Motorways & Expressways. Instructions were also issued by Federal Minister for Communications to upgrade cleanliness, beautification, green belts and service areas with the addition of qualified horticulture expertise to ensure proper plantation and landscaping. Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan stressed that citizens should witness tangible and visible improvements in the shortest possible time and directed that any officer or staff member failing to perform should immediately be relieved of their position without any discrimination.
For security purposes, Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan instructed that Motorway and service area security systems must be fully integrated with Safe City Systems to ensure effective monitoring and swift apprehension of criminal activity. He also directed NHA to establish its own Central Monitoring Dashboard, providing 24/7 access to the Chairman NHA for real-time updates on revenue collection and operational performance which may also be linked with IG Motorways for immediate communication.
The meeting further decided on the immediate removal of all illegal billboards and advertisements from Motorways. He further directed NHA to develop an improved institutional mechanism and submit weekly progress report to him for which he directed the Chairman NHA to conduct visits whenever and wherever necessary. Secretary Communications and Chairman NHA along with other senior officers attended the meeting and briefed Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan on certain issues.
