Abdul Aleem Khan Orders Acceleration of Key Road Projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Islamabad : Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan on Wednesday instructed the National Highway Authority (NHA) to expedite work on critical road projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), emphasizing strict adherence to timelines, transparency, and quality construction.
Presiding over a high-level review meeting, the minister was briefed that major infrastructure projects, including the Kohat–Jhand–Pindi Gheb Road and the Old Bannu Road Highway, have been completed and are awaiting formal inauguration by the Prime Minister. These projects are expected to enhance regional connectivity and facilitate economic activity.
Officials informed the minister that ongoing projects, such as the Indus Highway (N-55) Kohat Section and the Peshawar Northern Bypass, are on schedule for completion by June 2026. Meanwhile, development of the N-140 Highway, connecting Chitral to Shandur and Shandur to Gilgit, is projected to be finalized by December 2026.
Abdul Aleem Khan directed an accelerated pace of work on the N-55 Kohat Section and announced plans to personally visit KP to inspect progress on-site.
To ensure transparency and financial discipline, the minister ordered that all road maintenance payments be disbursed only after a personal site visit and verification by the Chairman NHA, cautioning against unnecessary or unjustified expenditures. He stressed that delays result in cost escalations and reaffirmed that no compromise would be made on construction quality.
The minister further instructed the NHA to engage proactively with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government to resolve pending issues and called for a comprehensive strategy for foreign-funded projects. He directed that all developmental matters receive formal approval from the NHA Board and requested an immediate list of projects requiring urgent cash flow to prevent technical or administrative bottlenecks.
The Federal Secretary for Communications and Chairman NHA briefed the meeting on completed and ongoing projects in KP, highlighting the progress made and outlining the road map for upcoming works.
