The Indus Highway (N-55) Kohat Section and the Peshawar Northern Bypass are scheduled for completion by June 2026, while the development of the N-140 highway connecting Chitral to Shandur and Shandur to Gilgit is expected to be finalised by December 2026.
Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan made these disclosures while chairing a high-level review meeting on Wednesday to assess strategic projects being executed by the National Highway Authority (NHA).
During the meeting, the Minister was informed that several major infrastructure projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been completed and are awaiting formal inauguration by the Prime Minister. These include the Kohat, Jhand, Pindi Gheb and Old Bannu Road highways, which are expected to significantly enhance regional connectivity.
The Minister issued firm instructions to further expedite work on the N-55 Kohat section and announced that he would soon visit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to personally review progress on ongoing projects.
To ensure greater transparency and financial discipline, Abdul Aleem Khan directed that all payments for road maintenance be released strictly after on-site inspection and verification by the Chairman of the NHA.
He instructed officials to avoid unnecessary or unjustified expenditures under the guise of maintenance. Emphasizing timely completion, the Minister noted that project delays lead to cost escalation and reiterated that there would be no compromise on construction quality.
Concluding the meeting, the Federal Minister instructed the NHA to maintain close coordination with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government to resolve all outstanding issues. He also stressed the need for a more effective strategy for foreign-funded projects and directed that all development-related matters be formally approved by the NHA Board.
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