Islamabad: Chairman of the National Highway Authority (NHA) Muhammad Sheheryar Sultan has said that the authority has expedited construction and rehabilitation work on major road projects across the country, with significant progress seen in Sindh due to cooperation from the provincial government.
He was speaking at a meeting of the Senate Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas, chaired by Senator Agha Shazaib Durrani, which reviewed the status of ongoing projects and compliance with earlier recommendations.
The NHA chairman said that while land acquisition had long been a hurdle in Sindh due to litigation and procedural delays, the situation had improved considerably. He credited the Sindh government for actively facilitating the process, adding that it had even agreed to provide funds for the Hyderabad–Sukkur Motorway (M-6) land acquisition after a PKR 5.8 billion embezzlement in NHA accounts was uncovered. Once the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) recovers the embezzled amount, the NHA will reimburse the provincial government.
The committee was informed that the 7.3-kilometre North Access Road (NAR) project, delayed earlier due to a stay order and contractual issues, is now 85% complete following the award of a fresh contract on August 5, 2025. Completion is expected by the end of October.
On development in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the panel reviewed the proposal for direct motorway access to Peshawar Airport. Senators suggested building a flyover from the M-1 motorway, but the NHA said an additional lane from the Islamabad exit towards the airport is being designed instead. The NHA has already submitted a PC-I titled “Widening of M-1, M-2 & Link Road due to Rawalpindi Ring Road Merger”, which includes a dedicated loop at the M-1/M-2 interchange to improve access.
Regarding projects in Chitral, the committee was briefed on the Ayun, Bamboret, and Reshun roads. Contracts have been awarded, but land acquisition remains a key challenge. Senator Falak Naz offered her assistance in coordinating with local authorities, a move welcomed by the NHA.
Progress on the N-55 dual carriageway was also discussed. The authority reported 75% completion, with work expected to finish by December 31, 2025. A fact-finding inquiry into delays has already led to disciplinary proceedings against several officers, though the committee noted that none had been suspended so far. Senator Durrani urged the NHA to ensure accountability and avoid presenting unverified data before Senate forums.
The committee also reviewed the 66.37-kilometre Petaro–Sehwan section of N-55, where 92% of physical work has been completed, including base and culvert structures. However, the As-Built Survey report has been delayed for more than 240 days. The committee directed that it be submitted within 30 days and ordered a site visit within 15 days to verify compliance with earlier recommendations.
Members also discussed the recurring impact of floods and climate change on infrastructure, calling for the use of resilient materials and design upgrades to ensure long-term durability.
Senator Durrani expressed concern over fiscal discipline in development planning, noting that schemes worth PKR 120 billion are proposed annually despite limited resources. He advised that no new projects be initiated until ongoing ones are completed.
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