Briefing on key projects held; payments for construction and maintenance linked to site inspections by NHA Chairman; Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan orders early completion of major projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Islamabad: A high-level review meeting on key development projects of the National Highway Authority was held under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan. During the meeting, the minister was briefed that major NHA projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the Kohat–Jand–Pindi Ghaib road and the Old Bannu Road, have been completed and are now ready for inauguration by the Prime Minister.
While briefing the minister on timelines of ongoing projects, officials informed that the Indus Highway N-55 Kohat section and the Peshawar Northern Bypass are expected to be completed by June 2026. It was further stated that construction of Highway N-140, comprising the Chitral–Shandur and Shandur–Gilgit sections, has been targeted for completion by December 2026. Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan directed that the pace of work on the N-55 Kohat section be further accelerated and indicated that he would soon visit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to personally inspect the ongoing works.
To ensure transparency in financial matters, the federal minister announced an important policy decision under which no payments for road construction and maintenance will be made without a personal site visit and inspection by the Chairman NHA. He cautioned officials to strictly avoid any unnecessary payments. The minister said that delays in project completion increase the burden on the national exchequer and lead to cost escalation, therefore no compromise will be made on quality standards or timelines.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan directed the NHA to immediately take up all pending matters with the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and to formulate an improved strategy for foreign-funded projects. He emphasized that approvals for all development matters must be obtained from the NHA Board members and instructed the Chairman NHA to provide a list of projects requiring immediate cash flow to ensure uninterrupted progress of development works.
The Federal Secretary Communications and the Chairman NHA briefed the minister on various ongoing and completed NHA projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while the Member Khyber Pakhtunkhwa informed the meeting about the pace of work on these projects.