Revenue target for NHA more than doubled, says minister

Revenue target for NHA more than doubled, says minister

LAHORE: Federal Minister for Communication Abdul Aleem Khan says that the revenue target for National Highway Authority (NHA) for the ongoing fiscal year has been increased from Rs66 billion to Rs160 billion and its expenditures have also been capped at Rs50 billion. He said this while speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Saturday. The minister said that the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway was planned to be widened from four to six lanes with the additional Rs10 billion from the NHA-generated revenues. Mr Khan said, “The government is working to improve road infrastructure across Pakistan through self-generated resources. The increase in revenue through toll taxes and other sources will be utilised for constructing new roads and improving infrastructure across the country”. He said that the Lahore–Khyber Motorway project would be completed in 2027, while the Balochistan Expressway project would improve access to remote areas and reduce the risks associated with dangerous roads and frequent accidents. The project was expected to be completed by the end of the following year, he added. The minister said that a substantial portion of the authority’s income was consumed by salaries, routine road maintenance, repairs and emergency rehabilitation of roads and bridges damaged by floods. Referring to development funds, the minister mentioned Rs224 billion allocated for ongoing projects under the 2024 public sector development programme (PSDP). He said that a major share of the development funds was intended for national highway projects in Balochistan. Speaking about the problems faced by businesses, the federal minister said that he had presented proposals to the prime minister for ease of doing business to address the difficulties faced by the industrial sector. He urged banks to consider rescheduling loans of industrialists affected by high interest rates. He said Pakistan could benefit significantly from its strategic geographical location by facilitating the transportation of Chinese goods through Gwadar and Karachi to Iran and other regional markets. He said improved roads and trade corridors could strengthen Pakistan’s role in regional commerce and transit trade. Speaking on the occasion, LCCI President Ali Hussam Asghar urged the government to amend business-related laws to make it easier for traders and industrialists. He said regulatory enforcement should focus on improving compliance rather than unnecessarily disrupting business activity. He urged the NHA to consult major chambers of commerce before increasing toll taxes, explaining that higher toll charges directly increase freight and transportation costs and ultimately affect business competitiveness. Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2026