Professor Ahsan Iqbal directed the National Highway Authority (NHA) to eliminate bottlenecks, speed up work on major motorways and national highways, and maintain strict financial discipline.
Iqbal stated that he would not tolerate non-transparent claims, unjustified cost escalations, or delays in the development of projects. The minister emphasized that public funds must be used efficiently and transparently, requiring accountability at every stage of project implementation.
He described national highway projects as a cornerstone of Pakistan’s industrial growth, investment climate, regional trade, and economic development rather than mere infrastructure schemes. The 216-kilometre Shandur-Gilgit Road project, which costs Rs49,946.070 million, has reached 67.33 per cent physical progress. Progress on the 153-kilometre Chitral-Booni Mastuj-Shandur Road project stands at 40 per cent, with a total cost of Rs17,783.193 million.
Work on the 273-kilometre dualization and rehabilitation of the Karachi-Quetta-Chaman Road (N-25) has achieved 19.25 per cent progress against a cost of Rs183,421.427 million. The Shikarpur-Rajanpur Additional Carriageway Project, spanning 221.9 kilometres, is 62 per cent complete and costs Rs44,703.890 million.
Contractors are currently mobilizing for the 208.19-kilometre Dera Ghazi Khan-Dera Ismail Khan section, which has been awarded at a cost of Rs111,940.070 million. Letters of award for the 121.5-kilometre Rajanpur-Dera Ghazi Khan section, costing Rs63,150.570 million, are pending due to resettlement issues and land acquisition.
Procurement is underway for the 306-kilometre Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway (M-6) at a PC-I cost of Rs363,700 million, alongside the Rs33,250 million electrical and mechanical works for the Lowari Tunnel. Iqbal instructed authorities to provide actionable proposals within 15 days to address financial claims and outstanding issues regarding the bypass project.
