ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan on Friday held the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments responsible for slow progress on key national highway projects. He warned that the federal government would step in directly if provinces failed to deliver their promised contributions.
Federal takeover looms for stalled projects
While chairing a high-level National Highway Authority review meeting, the minister expressed strong dissatisfaction with the current pace of work. He specifically pointed to the Peshawar Northern Bypass, where the KP government has delayed funding for over five months. Khan made it clear that NHA would complete the project on its own if provincial funds do not arrive soon.
Moreover, he criticised the Punjab government for not releasing its share for the important Rawalpindi-Kahuta road project. The minister directed NHA to take full responsibility and finish these unfinished corridors without further delay. He stressed that endless waiting would no longer be acceptable as these projects remain vital for national connectivity.
Motorway expansion and strict deadlines announced
Alongside these decisions, Aleem Khan ordered the widening of the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway from four to six lanes. He also directed authorities to build the Sialkot-Kharian and Kharian-Rawalpindi sections as full six-lane motorways. The minister demanded 100 percent accuracy in all feasibility studies and instructed teams to complete critical bridge work on the Peshawar Northern Bypass before the July monsoon season.
Furthermore, he emphasised the need to speed up all ongoing schemes to improve Pakistan’s transport infrastructure. Senior officials, including the communications secretary and NHA chairman, attended the meeting where the minister clearly showed his displeasure over the slow implementation.
This firm stance signals a shift toward greater federal intervention in stalled provincial projects. Many observers hope the new approach will finally accelerate work on these long-delayed highways that millions of travellers use every day.
