Communications minister blames provinces for delays in highway projects

Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan blamed provincial governments for delays in several highway projects and directed the National Highway Authority to accelerate completion of key infrastructure schemes.

As per news reports, the minister, while chairing a meeting on NHA projects, expressed dissatisfaction over the pace of work involving the governments of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to an official statement, Abdul Aleem Khan said delays in provincial commitments were affecting progress on major transport projects and added that such delays would no longer be tolerated.

The minister stated that after waiting more than five months for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to release funds for the Peshawar Northern Bypass, the NHA had decided to complete the project independently if the funds were not provided.

He also said the Punjab government had not delivered its committed share for the Rawalpindi-Kahuta project, directing the NHA to assume responsibility for completing the corridor.

During the meeting, the minister ordered the expansion of the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway from four lanes to six lanes.

He further directed that the Sialkot-Kharian and Kharian-Rawalpindi sections should also be developed as six-lane facilities.

Abdul Aleem Khan instructed officials to ensure complete accuracy in feasibility studies for all NHA projects and directed that ongoing works, particularly bridges on the Peshawar Northern Bypass, should be completed before the start of the July monsoon season.

The meeting was attended by the Secretary of Communications and the Chairman of the National Highway Authority.