ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The National Highway Authority (NHA) on Thursday approved a 70-kilometer extension of the Murree Expressway (N-75) to Muzaffarabad, the capital city of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), aimed at boosting regional connectivity.
The decision was taken during the high-level meeting, chaired by Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan, to review the authority’s financial close and map out strategic infrastructure priorities for the current fiscal year.
According to the press release issued by the Ministry of Communications, the Murree-Muzaffarabad Expressway will effectively connect AJK to Pakistan’s key motorway and expressway network, providing the residents with a modern, high-speed, and safe travel facility.
Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan emphasized that the construction of this expressway marks the beginning of a modern era of safe transit for the people of Kashmir, noting that “the population of Azad Kashmir deserves the same high-caliber motorway facilities enjoyed across the rest of the country”.
To ensure maximum efficiency across the board, the Federal Minister issued strict directives to the NHA leadership to prioritize the completion of existing infrastructure over launching new ventures, the press release added.
25 ongoing projects
He specified that during the current fiscal year, the NHA must focus its resources heavily on completing 25 ongoing priority projects before shifting focus to brand new initiatives.
“Among these critical routes, Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan emphasized the completion of the M-8 Motorway, directing that the Hoshab-Awaran Road and the Awaran-Nal project be fast-tracked,” the statement added.
He noted that these specific southwestern corridors are absolutely vital for scaling up bilateral trade with neighboring Iran, as well as unlocking the tourism potential of the region, making the timely construction of these highways completely indispensable.
Reviewing the NHA’s long-term financial health, Abdul Aleem Khan also outlined a bold vision to transform the authority into a powerhouse of financial self-reliance.
Khan stated that the NHA will be restructured to generate Rs 300 to 400 billion annually from its own internal revenue streams rather than relying on federal government funding.
