Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan presided over a high-level special meeting of the National Highway Authority (NHA) today to review the authority's financial close and map out strategic infrastructure priorities for the current fiscal year. In a decision aimed at boosting regional connectivity, the Federal Minister announced a 70-kilometer extension of the Murree Expressway (N-75) all the way to Muzaffarabad. This expansion will effectively connect Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to Pakistan’s main motorway and expressway network, providing the residents of Kashmir with modern, high-speed, and safe travel motorway facility.
Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan emphasized that the construction of the Murree-Muzaffarabad Expressway marks the beginning of a modern era of safe transit for the people of Kashmir, noting that the population of Azad Kashmir deserves the same high-caliber motorway facilities enjoyed across the rest of the country. To ensure maximum efficiency across the board, Federal Minister issued strict directives to the NHA leadership to prioritize the completion of existing infrastructure over launching new ventures. He specified that during the current fiscal year, the NHA must focus its resources heavily on completing 25 ongoing priority projects before shifting focus to brand new initiatives.
Among these critical routes, Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan emphasized the completion of the M-8 Motorway, directing that the Hoshab-Awaran Road and the Awaran-Nal project be fast-tracked. He noted that these specific southwestern corridors are absolutely vital for scaling up bilateral trade with neighboring Iran, as well as unlocking the tourism potential of the region, making the timely construction of these highways completely indispensable. Reviewing the NHA's long-term financial health, Abdul Aleem Khan also outlined a bold vision to transform the authority into a powerhouse of financial self-reliance. He stated that the NHA will be restructured to generate 300 to 400 billion rupees annually from its own internal revenue streams rather than relying on federal government funding. The meeting concluded after detailed briefings from the Federal Secretary for Communications and the Chairman of the NHA regarding the organization's fiscal closeout and strategic operational roadmap.
