National Highway Authority (NHA) Chairman Hamid Ali Khan on Wednesday stated that the completion of all projects in accordance with international standards was the need of the hour.
The chairman stated that on conclusion, the projects would spur the development of industry, trade, agriculture and tourism that will ultimately strengthen the country’s economy.
While chairing an executive board meeting of the NHA, the chairman referred to Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif’s vision regarding the upgrading of all national highways to the six-lane standard and stressed the importance of the Communications Sector in the economic development of the country.
NH&MP Inspector General Zulfiqar Cheema, Finance Division Additional Secretary Khizar Gondal, Communications Joint Secretary Faiz Mahmood attended the meeting among others.
The meeting reviewed in detail the progress on the Peer Nori Badshah Bridge, Khushal Garh Bridge, City Ring Road Multan, Bahawalpur Chowk, Kumharanwala Chowk, Sukhar-Shikarpur-Jaccobabad Road, Khanewal-Multan Motorway, Qallat-Quetta Highway, Qilla Saifullah-Zhob Road and other ongoing projects, including reconstruction of the Sher Shah Bridge Karachi.
Decisions were taken to ensure the timely completion of all ongoing NHA projects in accordance with the international standards and the removal of all obstacles blocking the construction process.
Cheema and Member Planning Raja Nosherwan stressed the need to further vitalise the National Transport Research Institute (NTRC). The NHA chairman informed the participants of the setting up of the Flood Emergency Relief Cell (FERC) to deal with possible floods and said that necessary machinery and staff had been dispatched to areas in where floods were expected.