Abdul Aleem Khan, the Federal Minister for Communications, has ordered an assessment and renovation of the Sialkot-Rawalpindi Motorway, proposing an increase from four to six lanes to meet future needs.
In a high-level meeting with the National Highway Authority (NHA), Minister Khan emphasised the necessity of barrier-free motorways for efficient traffic flow. He highlighted the strategic importance of highways and the necessity to raise public awareness about these improvements through various media outlets. The meeting discussed many NHA projects in Balochistan, Sindh, and Gilgit-Baltistan, with a focus on building roads that will assist the economy and accommodate future population rise.
Minister Khan demanded that live cameras be installed on all NHA construction sites for real-time surveillance, and he also called for third-party audits of maintenance projects to ensure that government funds are used efficiently. He also emphasized the gradual construction of the N25 expressway in Balochistan and proposed collaboration with the Gilgit-Baltistan government to overcome communication issues.
Specific instructions were given for the construction of highways linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), with the necessity that these projects be included in a reporting system for the Prime Minister. Additionally, the Minister requested a feasibility analysis on the shortest routes to Central Asian countries, with the goal of improving future connectivity and economic potential.