Agha Safeer Hussain Kazmi
If one carefully examines the development of modern states, a clear reality emerges: strong infrastructure—particularly quality highways—serves as the backbone of a country or region’s economic, social, and tourism growth. Roads are not merely routes of transportation; they ensure economic flow, cultural exchange, regional connectivity, and the promotion of tourism. In this context, the role of the National Highway Authority (NHA) is both significant and central, as it has opened new avenues of development in Pakistan and its administered regions through the construction, expansion, and improvement of highways.
The utility of NHA is not limited to building roads; its real objective is to establish an integrated road network that strengthens internal connectivity while also promoting international trade and tourism. In northern areas, particularly in regions like Azad Jammu & Kashmir, highways constructed by NHA have breathed new life into tourism. These routes have not only facilitated the local population but have also made access easier for tourists from across the country.
Azad Kashmir is considered a paradise-like region due to its natural beauty, lush green valleys, winding roads, and breathtaking landscapes. The highways here, which snake through the foothills, not only provide travel convenience but also offer an aesthetic experience for tourists. However, the unfortunate reality is that the beauty and utility of these highways are gradually being compromised, primarily due to institutional non-cooperation and administrative negligence.
It is a well-established principle that construction is prohibited within a certain limit along highways. The purpose is to ensure future road expansion, maintain traffic flow, and allow immediate access in emergencies. While NHA formulates such policies and is responsible for their implementation within its domain, effective enforcement at the local level requires cooperation from the Azad government’s institutions, district administration, municipal bodies, and other relevant departments.
Unfortunately, this is where the system weakens in Azad Kashmir. While NHA operates under its policies and regulations, the situation deteriorates when local administrations fail to enforce these laws. Temporary encroachments first appear along roadsides—carts, stalls, and makeshift shops—and gradually, these temporary structures turn into permanent constructions.
This process is not merely an illegal activity; it is equivalent to challenging the writ of the state. When laws are openly violated and institutions remain silent spectators, it sends a message that the law applies only to the weak, while the powerful are above it. Such thinking breeds disorder and chaos within society.
Across various cities of Azad Kashmir, particularly along major highways, this very situation is evident. Beautiful roads that once attracted tourists have now become narrow and unattractive due to encroachments. Unplanned shops, haphazard constructions, and parking issues have not only disrupted traffic flow but have also severely damaged the aesthetic appeal of these highways.
From a tourism perspective, this situation is deeply concerning. Globally, tourists are drawn to destinations that offer not only natural beauty but also well-organized and visually pleasing infrastructure. If highways are surrounded by disorder, encroachments, and illegal constructions, it leaves a negative impression on visitors. They not only avoid returning but also discourage others through their experiences.
This raises an important question: Do we truly intend to promote tourism, or are we merely limiting ourselves to slogans and statements? If tourism development is a genuine goal, the first step must be ensuring discipline and order along highways. Clean, wide, and encroachment-free roads are essential to attract tourists.
At an institutional level, NHA alone cannot resolve this issue. All relevant departments of the Azad government must play their role. District administration, police, municipal bodies, and other departments can control this problem through a coordinated strategy. However, this requires sincerity of intent and proper prioritization.
Unfortunately, actions against encroachments are often temporary and symbolic. Operations are carried out for a few days, publicized in the media, and then the situation worsens again after some time. The primary reasons are lack of consistency and pressure from influential elements, which become the biggest obstacles to enforcing the law.
If this situation persists, the consequences over the next five to ten years will be severe. Road expansion will become nearly impossible, traffic issues will intensify, and the government will have to bear billions in additional costs. Public reaction will also emerge, and the pressing question will be: who is responsible?
Will NHA be blamed, or the institutions of the Azad government that failed to act in time? Or those elements who continued violating the law without being stopped? The reality is that responsibility will be collective, and the entire state will bear the consequences.
This is the time to take the issue seriously and act immediately. First, an effective coordination mechanism must be established between NHA and the Azad government. A joint task force should be formed to identify encroachments along highways and take indiscriminate action against them. At the same time, a public awareness campaign should be launched to instill the understanding that these roads belong to the people, and their protection is a shared responsibility.
Ensuring the rule of law is a fundamental duty of the state. Failure in this regard affects not just administration but every sector of society. This is why encroachments along highways are not merely an administrative issue but a matter linked to state authority, governance, and future development.
If ignored today, this issue will become an unmanageable crisis tomorrow. Highways are not just roads—they are pathways to progress. If obstacles are placed on them, the journey of development also comes to a halt.
Therefore, it is imperative to rise above short-term interests, prioritize collective welfare, ensure the enforcement of law, and create an environment where highways are free of encroachments—facilitating ease of travel, promoting tourism, and preserving the dignity of the state. Because when the ?????? are clear, destinations become easier to achieve.
A fundamental requirement of governance is that where laws exist, their implementation must also be ensured. However, when laws remain confined to books and ground realities differ, problems arise—and gradually evolve into crises. The growing encroachments along major highways in Azad Jammu & Kashmir have become one such serious issue that now demands careful and objective analysis of its causes, drivers, and potential consequences.
Encroachments do not emerge overnight; they are the result of a gradual process. It often begins with minor violations—someone sets up a cart, someone installs a temporary stall, and another occupies a few feet of land for business. If the law is enforced at this early stage, the issue can be resolved immediately. But when institutions remain silent, these small encroachments eventually turn into permanent structures.
The reasons behind this growing problem are multifaceted. The foremost is institutional weakness and lack of coordination. While NHA is responsible for highways, effective enforcement requires support from district administration, municipal bodies, and police. Without coordination, the law becomes merely symbolic.
Another major factor is economic pressure and limited employment opportunities. Many people establish roadside businesses due to lack of alternatives. If the state fails to provide viable livelihoods, people resort to illegal means, expanding the scope of encroachments.
The third factor is the influence of powerful individuals. It is a harsh reality that while a common person can be removed even for a small stall, influential individuals often carry out large-scale illegal constructions without fear. This discriminatory approach weakens the credibility of law and encourages further violations.
The question then arises: Are institutions in Azad Kashmir inactive? Apparently, all relevant institutions exist—NHA, district administration, municipal bodies, police—but the issue lies not in their existence, but in their functionality, seriousness, and coordination. When institutions fail to prioritize their responsibilities or act under pressure and vested interests, the result is the current state of highways.
This is why mobile fruit shops, carts, and temporary stalls appear along highways under NHA’s jurisdiction. Initially ignored, they take root and eventually transform into permanent constructions. The real question is not how this happens, but why no one stops it.
If this trend continues, the consequences will be severe. Road expansion will become nearly impossible due to illegal occupation of land. The government will either have to pay heavy compensation to remove encroachments or leave roads as they are, worsening traffic issues.
Traffic accidents will also increase. Encroachments, unplanned parking, and lack of pedestrian space create hazardous conditions. Emergency services are also hindered, potentially leading to loss of precious lives.
Tourism will suffer significantly. The natural beauty of Azad Kashmir is its greatest asset, but disorder, encroachments, and unplanned construction diminish its appeal. Tourists seek organized, clean, and attractive environments; without them, they turn elsewhere—impacting a major economic sector.
The solution lies not in criticism but in practical action. A powerful, multi-institutional task force should be established to assist NHA. This body must have clear authority and responsibility, not just symbolic existence.
Its role should go beyond removing encroachments—it should develop a comprehensive strategy. First, identify all encroachments; second, set a timeline for their removal; and third, establish a monitoring system to prevent re-encroachment.
Crucially, enforcement must be impartial. Whether an ordinary citizen or an influential figure, the law must apply equally. At the same time, alternative livelihood opportunities should be provided to those genuinely dependent on roadside businesses, ensuring that the human dimension is not ignored.
Public awareness is equally important. Until people understand that encroachments harm their own interests, a lasting solution is not possible. Media, educational institutions, and civil society must play their part.
Authorities in the Azad government must recognize that highways represent the face of the state. If this face is disfigured, claims of development lose credibility. What is happening today is laying the foundation for tomorrow’s problems. If timely action is not taken, future generations will question why the issue was not resolved when it was evident.
Even now, there is time to act with seriousness, foster institutional coordination, and implement a clear strategy to end this “ongoing spectacle.” Successful states are those that recognize their problems in time and address them effectively.