Federal Minister for Communications, Board of Investment, and Privatisation, Abdul Aleem Khan, chaired a high-level meeting of the National Highways Authority (NHA) to review ongoing improvements and set further goals for the authority’s operations. During the meeting, NHA Chairman briefed the minister on recent progress, noting a significant rise in M-Tag usage, which now exceeds 92 percent, alongside improved revenue collection over the past six months.
While expressing satisfaction with the advancements, Minister Aleem Khan called for further digitalisation and modernisation of the NHA’s operations. He emphasized the need for the authority to adopt a Hi-Tech system and bring all its functions online in the shortest possible time. He stressed that implementing an advanced tracking system on highways should be a priority, with no room for error or delay.
Minister Khan also highlighted the importance of monitoring traffic on motorways and Grand Trunk (GT) roads, ensuring that every vehicle receives notification of whether it has paid through M-Tag. To streamline this process, he directed the NHA to develop real-time data dashboards and establish state-of-the-art monitoring rooms modeled on the Safe City project.
Khan further instructed the NHA to collaborate closely with the Motorway Police by integrating modern cameras and advanced technology, enabling swift responses to any incidents or unusual situations on the highways. He praised the recent revenue increases achieved by the NHA, attributing the success to solid policies and effective enforcement, which have strengthened the institution financially.
The minister underscored the importance of continuing to discourage cash payments on highways, encouraging a complete transition to M-Tag payments. He recommended that vehicles attempting to bypass the system receive automatic fines, and called for the NHA to boost its resources without relying solely on government funding.
He advocated for uniform policies and regulations across all highways and motorways, ensuring consistency and safety for all road users. The minister commended NHA officers for their efforts over the past six months, announcing that officers who have contributed to the authority’s development would be awarded certificates of appreciation from the prime minister.
In a separate statement during the meeting, Minister Aleem Khan praised Pakistan’s security forces for their successful operations against terrorism in North and South Waziristan, where 12 terrorists were killed. He also paid tribute to the martyrdom of six soldiers, reaffirming the nation’s commitment to rooting out terrorism. Khan expressed confidence that the country would soon see lasting peace, thanks to the dedication and bravery of the Pakistan Army, which he called the true protector of the nation.
