NHA to Engage Foreign Experts for Highway Design and Road Engineering

Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan has instructed the National Highway Authority (NHA) to employ foreign experts to enhance road engineering and highway design, in alignment with contemporary international standards. The directive was given during a high-level conference that reviewed the NHA's ongoing and planned projects, revenue growth, road safety, development initiatives, and financial aspects.

Khan expressed concerns regarding the design of the M-4 and other highways, emphasizing that Pakistan's roads must prioritize the safety and comfort of motorists. He reiterated that safeguarding human lives should be the primary concern in highway construction. Khan ordered NHA engineers to adopt international best practices and focus on safer, more comfortable motorway designs.

Furthermore, he instructed officials to bolster road safety by enhancing engineering in new highway projects. It was reported that the NHA oversees merely 3.13% of Pakistan's road network, yet over 80% of the country's traffic utilizes this network. Officials briefed Khan on funding for the M-6 Motorway, projects under the Public Sector Development Program, and NHA endeavors in all four provinces.

The minister affirmed that the NHA has met its revenue growth goal set two years ago and intends to use revenue from existing sources to build new roads. The meeting also decided to seek Rs. 108 billion from the federal government to finance NHA projects in Balochistan.