NHA explores four motorway projects under PPP model

Proposals include M-10 Motorway, Mansehra-Chilas route, Guru Nanak Expressway and Murree Expressway extension to AJK ISLAMABAD: The National Highway Authority (NHA) and the Privatisation Commission, alongside the Public Private Partnership Authority (P3A), have discussed the potential development of four major road infrastructure projects under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. The proposals were reviewed during a meeting in Islamabad on Wednesday, co-chaired by Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation Muhammad Ali. Participants assessed the financial feasibility and commercial prospects of the proposed highway projects to determine their suitability for private sector investment. Among the projects discussed was a 169-kilometre section of the M-10 Motorway, alongside the proposed Mansehra–Naran–Jhal Khand–Chilas Motorway, which would provide connectivity towards the Chinese border. The meeting also considered the proposed Guru Nanak Expressway, which Abdul Aleem Khan said could facilitate religious tourism for the Sikh community. Another proposal involved extending the Murree Expressway to Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to improve regional connectivity, tourism and trade. The communications minister directed NHA officials to prepare a formal business plan and identify commercially viable projects for potential private investment. Referring to the ongoing construction of the Sialkot–Kharian Motorway (M-12) under the PPP model, Khan said the authority's increasing revenues indicated progress towards financial independence. He outlined a plan to transform NHA into a financially self-sustaining entity valued between Rs500 billion and Rs1 trillion, reducing its dependence on federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) funding. Muhammad Ali assured support from the Privatisation Commission and P3A in assessing the proposed projects and facilitating their development under the PPP framework. Both sides agreed to complete preliminary technical work and convene another meeting within one week to review the findings. The meeting was attended by the federal secretary for communications, NHA chairman, corporate head of the Privatisation Commission and senior P3A representatives.