ISLAMABAD:Federal Minister for Communications and Postal Services Mr. Murad Saeed has said that prime importance be attached for timely completion of maintenance schemes of national highways throughout the country and undertaking of concrete steps to this effect is dire need of present time. Present government is determined to provide safe and sound travelling to road users on national highways and motorways in the country. He was addressing a high level meeting regarding maintenance of roads all over the country participated by Federal Secretary Communications Mr. Zafar Hassan, Chairman National Highway Authority Capt. (R) Muhammad Khurram Agha and Senior officers from Ministry of Communications and National Highway Authority. Continuing Mr. Murad Saeed said, in near future about 70% of National Highway Authority network will be maintained and restored. He said, quality and timely completion of road building and maintenance schemes stand among our priorities and that to this effect all damaged roads will be maintained on priority basis. For the purpose, a comprehensive plan has been finalized, he added.

NHA’s General Managers Muhammad Naseem Khattak and Col® Zulfiqar Ali Janjua gave detailed briefing regarding maintenance schemes of National Highway Authority in all the four provinces and in Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan regions. In the briefing it was told that under Annual Maintenance Plan 2017-18, a total of 913 km roads segments were maintained in 2018-19. According to details 456 Kms roads in Punjab province 98 Km roads in Punjab province, 98 km roads in Balochistan 211 km roads in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan and 132 km long roads in Sindh province were improved. Likewise, under 2018-19 Annual Maintenance Plan 108 km long road segments were improved in Punjab. While 91 km long road in Balochistan, 42 km roads in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan and 40 km long roads in Sindh province were improved. It was further told in the briefing that under Annual Maintenance Plan 2019-20, 83 schemes having total length of 749 km road segments will be improved throughout the country. Likewise 132 schemes having total length of 1344 road segments will be improved under Annual Maintenance Plan 2020-21. It was further told in the briefing that by December this year, the construction work of 4540 km roads sections will be completed.