70-kilometre expansion to link Azad Kashmir directly with Pakistan’s motorway and expressway network
The federal government has approved a 70-kilometre extension of the Murree Expressway (N-75) to Muzaffarabad, paving the way for Azad Jammu and Kashmir to be directly connected to Pakistan’s motorway and expressway network.
The decision was made during a meeting of the National Highway Authority (NHA) chaired by Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan. The meeting reviewed the authority’s financial position and development projects for the current fiscal year.
According to the Ministry of Communications, the extension will provide residents of Azad Kashmir with a faster, safer, and more modern travel route. Abdul Aleem Khan said the project would mark the beginning of a new era of modern transport infrastructure for the region.
The minister also instructed the NHA to prioritise the completion of ongoing projects instead of launching new ones, with full focus on completing 25 priority schemes during the current fiscal year.
He further directed authorities to accelerate work on the M-8 Motorway, including the Hoshab-Awaran and Awaran-Nal road projects, describing them as vital for boosting trade with Iran and promoting regional tourism.
Abdul Aleem Khan said the NHA would be restructured to reduce its reliance on federal funding and strengthen its capacity to generate up to Rs4 trillion annually through internal revenue sources.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the communications secretary and NHA chairman briefed participants on the authority’s financial performance and future strategy.
