Federal Minister for Communications informs Senate construction of long-awaited Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway will begin this year, with approval granted for three out of five sections.
Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan informed the Senate on Friday that work on the long-awaited Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway would commence this year. He approval had already been granted for three out of its five sections and the tendering process was underway. Responding to a question raised by Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan during the Question Hour, Khan the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway project was divided into five sections stretching from Sukkur to Hyderabad.
Khan approval for three sections had already been completed, while the tendering process had also started. He expressed hope that practical construction work would begin by August or September this year. The minister highlighted that the government was focusing on improving road infrastructure despite financial constraints and declining allocations under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
Khan mentioned that there were currently 109 toll plazas operational across the country, and directives had been issued to keep toll plazas inactive on roads in poor condition until rehabilitation work was completed. He emphasized that toll revenue was essential for maintaining existing roads and constructing new highways, noting that the National Highway Authority (NHA) had generated significant revenue through toll collection to support infrastructure projects.
Khan acknowledged that the condition of several roads was unsatisfactory due to a shortage of funds, which remained a major challenge for road maintenance and expansion projects. He further overloading by heavy transport vehicles severely damaged highways, causing them to deteriorate within a few years due to excessive axle load. The minister assured the House that the government was taking steps to improve road quality and infrastructure standards across the country.
Responding to remarks by senators regarding previous assurances about the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway, Khan after decades of delays, the project had finally reached the implementation stage, with work formally starting this year.
