Funds for NHA schemes slashed to Rs 9 billion

[Salman]

Funds for NHA schemes slashed to Rs 9 billion

ISLAMABAD: Ministry of Finance has placed a cut of Rs 2 billion and decided to release Rs 9 billion for the execution of National Highway schemes in Sindh and Balochistan.

Chairman National Highway Authority (NHA) Hamid Ali Khan said NHA was striving hard for timely execution of National Highway schemes in Sindh and Balochistan provinces. Finance Department is providing Rs 9 billion to NHA, however a cut of Rs 2 billion has been made.

Presiding over NHA’s Executive Board meeting Khan said pragmatic measures were being taken with the cooperation of National Highways and Motorway Police for making journey safe and sound on NHA network and protection of fencing along the motorways.

He stressed upon the need of checking over loaded vehicles to protect the asset of road network. He desired to provide facility like first aid to the travelers. In order to run the affairs of NHA more properly, NHA code is being revised.

The Executive Board accorded approval for construction left guide bank and right guide bank at Qazi-Ahmad-Amri bridge across river Indus. The bridge will provide link between Karachi-Lahore-Peshawar national highway (N-5) and Indus Highway (N-55). Length of this 4-lane bridge will be 1,240 meter. The meeting also discussed award of seven contracts of Flood Emergency Reconstruction Project, which also include Dharki-PanoAqil, Ramak-Peshawar, Ubaro- Sanjarpur, Chakdara-Kalam and Kashmor-Kotri sections.