NHA Accelerates National Road Projects with Key Progress Reported in Sindh

Islamabad: National Highway Authority (NHA) Chairman Muhammad Sheheryar Sultan has announced that the authority has accelerated construction and rehabilitation work on major national road projects, with notable progress achieved in Sindh thanks to active support from the provincial government.

He made these remarks during a meeting of the Senate Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas, chaired by Senator Agha Shazaib Durrani, which reviewed updates on ongoing infrastructure projects and compliance with earlier recommendations.

Chairman Sultan noted that while land acquisition in Sindh had long been hampered by litigation and procedural challenges, the situation has significantly improved. He credited the Sindh government for expediting the process and sharing financial responsibility for land acquisition of the Hyderabad–Sukkur Motorway (M-6), following the discovery of a PKR 5.8 billion embezzlement in NHA accounts. He added that once the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) recovers the misappropriated funds, the NHA will reimburse the provincial government.

The committee was briefed that construction on the 7.3-kilometre North Access Road (NAR) project, previously delayed due to a court stay and contractual issues, is now 85% complete under a new contract awarded on August 5, 2025, and is expected to finish by the end of October.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the committee reviewed proposals for improved motorway access to Peshawar Airport. While senators suggested constructing a flyover from the M-1 Motorway, the NHA shared that it is instead designing an additional lane from the Islamabad exit towards the airport. A project concept (PC-I) titled “Widening of M-1, M-2 & Link Road due to Rawalpindi Ring Road Merger” has been submitted, which includes a dedicated loop at the M-1/M-2 interchange for smoother connectivity.

Regarding development in Chitral, the NHA informed the committee that contracts for the Ayun, Bamboret, and Reshun roads have been awarded, but land acquisition remains a major obstacle. Senator Falak Naz offered to facilitate coordination with local authorities to expedite the process.

The N-55 dual carriageway project was also reviewed, with the NHA reporting 75% progress and a completion target of December 31, 2025. A fact-finding inquiry into project delays has led to disciplinary action against several officers; however, the committee noted that none have been suspended yet and stressed the need for greater accountability.

For the 66.37-kilometre Petaro–Sehwan section of N-55, the committee was told that 92% of physical work has been completed, including base and culvert structures, though the As-Built Survey report has been pending for over 240 days. The committee ordered the report’s submission within 30 days and a site inspection within 15 days to verify compliance.

Members also discussed the impact of recurring floods and climate change on road infrastructure, emphasizing the use of durable materials and climate-resilient designs in future projects.

Senator Durrani expressed concern over fiscal planning, highlighting that new schemes worth PKR 120 billion are proposed annually despite limited financial resources. He recommended prioritizing the completion of ongoing projects before launching new ones.