Business Recorder
ISLAMABAD: On the special directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the National Highway Authority (NHA) rescinded a 25 percent quarterly increase in toll taxes, freezing all adjustments for the 2025-26 fiscal year. In a high-level review meeting of the National Highway Authority (NHA), Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan said that the national infrastructure goals are aligned with public relief, and in these difficult times, his ministry will take all possible measures to reduce the plight of the common man. During the meeting, the minister transitioned to the government’s long-term vision, declaring the Karachi Port-Hyderabad M-10 Motorway as the “economic lifeline” of Pakistan. READ MORE: Aleem plans to increase NHA earnings to Rs500bn Abdul Aleem Khan emphasised that the M-10 would be an expansive 8-lane project, essential for strengthening port connectivity and decongesting urban heavy traffic. To ensure the highest standards, he directed the NHA to immediately engage international consultants and top-tier engineers for feasibility studies and preliminary work. To further modernise the travel experience and stimulate local trade, the project would include modern rest areas and shopping facilities developed every 10 kilometers along the motorway. The minister dismissed claims of the NHA’s financial instability as a “misleading narrative” asserting that the authority is strictly focused on sustainable and high-standard projects. The meeting also highlighted significant international support, noting that the OPEC Fund for International Development recently approved a USD 230 million loan for Section 3 of the Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway. The minister concluded by stressing that all resources must be utilized transparently to complete the M-10 project within a projected two-year timeframe, ensuring maximum benefit for the common citizen. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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