Islamabad: (Parliament Times) Federal Minister for Communications Mr. Murad Saeed has said that corruption in motorways and national highway schemes shall not be tolerated at any level. Process of leasing out NHA’s Right of Way (ROW) for business purpose be made absolutely transparent. Pragmatic steps need to be adopted to enhance NHA’s revenue. He was presiding over meeting of National Highway Council (NHC) held at Ministry of Communications here today
Mr. Murad Saeed stressed upon the need of seeking new ways and means to increase revenue level so that this organization could meet its financial requirement through its own resources. This will also help decrease load on national exchequer. Federal Minster for Communications also desired routine maintenance and beautification of road network to make journey safe and sound and environment friendly. In order to ensure transparency in NHA projects, he desired open bidding of all the leases of NHA’s ROW in presence of media. Secretary Ministry of Communications, Secretary Finance Division, Secretary Planning and Development Division, Highway Construction and Management Professional, Finance and Accounts Professional and Chairman National Highway Authority, also participated in the meeting.
The meeting accorded approval to Business Plan of NHA, Leasing of NHA lands for raising funds and regulations for access from NHA controlled network. The sole objective of these steps is to make NHA financially strong and self sustained by increasing its revenue through opening new avenues of business.
In the briefing, the meeting was told that under leasing policy, 114 sites located in NHA’s ROW will be leased out while more 15 sites are also identified for leasing purpose.
Likewise access from NHA’s network will be provided to Housing Schemes, Medical Cities, Education Cities, Factories and Theme Parks etc. that will also prepare ground to enhance revenue of the Authority.
It was further told that during the present government the Sahianwala Service Area at Pindi Bhattian-Faisalabad motorway was re-leased out. Earlier NHA was getting revenue Rs. 1.9 million per annum from it, while now NHA will receive Rs. 78 million per annum. Likewise Rest Area at Lahore-Abdul Hakeem motorway is also rented out during the present regime. Rent of the Tandalianwala Rest Area is Rs. 90.6 million per annum and Rs. 78 lac per month. It was further told that NHA was receiving Rs. 4.5 million rent annually from Hakla Service Area at M-1, while its current rent is Rs. 50.77 million per annum and Rs. 42 lac per month. Such steps have resulted in increased revenue of NHA by Rs. 9.54 billion.
