The federal government has approved plans to extend the Murree Expressway by approximately 70 kilometres to Muzaffarabad.
This will be a major infrastructure project aimed at connecting Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) with Pakistan’s national motorway and expressway.
The new route will significantly improve regional connectivity, reduce travel times and strengthen economic links between AJK and the rest of the country. The decision was taken during a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec), chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.
The National Highway Authority (NHA) will construct a four-lane expressway extending from the existing Murree Expressway to Muzaffarabad. People travelling from Islamabad and other parts of Pakistan will have direct access to Muzaffarabad through the new system. The project is expected to improve the movement of passengers and commercial traffic.
Additionally, better road infrastructure is also expected to encourage investment and contribute to the area’s long-term economic development. The Ecnec meeting also approved several other public sector development projects in different provinces. These initiatives cover transport, water management and educations.
Moreover, the Murree Expressway extension is also expected to enhance access during emergencies and natural disasters by providing a more reliable transportation corridor between Islamabad and Muzaffarabad. This will facilitate the timely movement of emergency services whenever required.
On the other hand, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) significantly reduced the scale of tax and financial irregularities during fiscal year 2024-25, with the latest audit report showing a sharp improvement across income tax, sales tax and customs.
According to the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP), audit observations involving tax irregularities totalled Rs242 billion during the year, compared with Rs662.7 billion in the previous fiscal year. The decline of about Rs421 billion, or nearly 63.5 per cent, suggests stronger tax compliance and better administration, although auditors said several long-standing issues still require attention.
Read more: FBR cuts tax irregularities by Rs421bn as compliance improves
