ISLAMABAD (Special Correspondent) – The National Highway Authority (NHA) and the Privatization Commission, alongside its Public Private Partnership Authority (P3A), held detailed discussions on 21 October 2026 to explore the potential of executing four major road infrastructure projects under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

Key Points

• Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan and Muhammad Ali co-chaired the high-level meeting in Islamabad.
• Four major infrastructure projects, including the M-10 Motorway and Guru Nanak Expressway, were evaluated.
• NHA aims to transform into a PKR 500 to 1,000 billion self-sustaining entity to reduce PSDP reliance.
• Officials agreed to finalize preliminary technical work and meet again in one week.

Infrastructure Projects Under Public-Private Partnership

The consultative meeting was co-chaired by Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan and Advisor to the Prime Minister on Privatization Muhammad Ali in Islamabad. During the session, participants evaluated the financial feasibility and commercial prospects of various highway networks for prospective private sector engagement.

Among the proposals discussed, the 169-kilometer section of the M-10 Motorway was considered for execution under the PPP framework. The meeting also explored the option of constructing the Mansehra–Naran–Jhal Khand–Chilas Motorway to link the route to the Chinese border.

Boosting Tourism and Financial Self-Reliance

Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan pointed out that the proposed Guru Nanak Expressway could play a vital role in facilitating religious tourism for the Sikh community, making it a strong candidate for development under the PPP model. He also highlighted that expanding the Murree Expressway up to Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) holds significant potential to boost tourism and trade across the region.

To further assess these options, the Federal Minister for Communications directed NHA officials to prepare a formal business plan and bring forward market-ready projects. Citing the ongoing construction of the Sialkot–Kharian Motorway (M-12) under a public-private partnership as an existing model, the Minister noted that NHA’s growing revenues reflect progress toward financial self-reliance. He expressed his vision to transform NHA into a financially autonomous entity valued between PKR 500 to 1,000 billion, thereby lessening reliance on federal PSDP funding.

Advisor to the Prime Minister on Privatization Muhammad Ali assured full support and facilitation from the Privatization Commission and P3A in evaluating these initiatives. Both sides agreed to finalize the preliminary technical work and hold a follow-up session in one week to review the findings. The meeting was attended by the Federal Secretary for Communications, Chairman NHA, Corporate Head of the Privatization Commission, and senior representatives of P3A.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which projects were discussed in the meeting?

The meeting evaluated the M-10 Motorway, Mansehra–Naran–Jhal Khand–Chilas Motorway, Guru Nanak Expressway, and the Murree Expressway extension.

What is the financial vision for NHA?

Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan expressed his vision to transform NHA into a self-sustaining entity valued between PKR 500 to 1,000 billion.