ISLAMABAD: The National Highway Authority (NHA) informed the Senate Standing Committee on Communications on Friday that the total projected cost of rebuilding roads and bridges damaged by the recent floods stands at Rs15 billion, with completion expected within 6 to 12 months.
So far, Rs2.6 billion have already been spent on immediate rehabilitation efforts.
The committee meeting, chaired by Senator Pervaiz Rashid, had been convened to review the extent of flood damage to national infrastructure and assess the NHA’s ongoing rehabilitation and reconstruction activities. Pervaiz directed the NHA to seek federal financial assistance on behalf of the provincial governments, stressing the need for greater inter-agency coordination.
NHA officials presented a detailed assessment of flood damage, reporting 91 affected sites in Gilgit-Baltistan, 47 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 20 in Punjab, 12 in Balochistan and 2 in Sindh. Despite the scale of destruction, the NHA confirmed that all routes in Punjab, Sindh, KP, and Balochistan have been reopened for traffic. Bridges and critical infrastructure were particularly hard hit. The Ayub Bridge in Havelian was damaged by floods on August 18, forcing traffic diversion to a provincial route, while the BB Nani Bridge on N-5 in Balochistan was similarly bypassed through alternate roads. Damage was also reported near Jalalpur Peerwala on M-5, where 78 kilometres of the 113-km Shah Shams-Ahmedpur Sharqia section have been restored.
“The water flow in the rivers was unprecedented,” said the NHA chairman. “In some northern areas, rivers saw such high levels of water after 22 to 28 years.”
Despite the widespread damage, the committee acknowledged the high construction standards of M-5 and Havelian–Thakot Motorways which suffered minimal impact. Senator Saifullah Abro raised questions about the design and history of the Ayub Bridge, noting that it was built over 50 years ago using surplus material from the Tarbela Dam project. Proposals were also discussed to rename the replacement bridge after Jinnah, Ayub, or Havelian.
The committee underscored that Pakistan remained one of the most climate-affected countries in the world, urging the formation of a national task force on climate resilience. The members called for an audit of international disaster aid and urged the federal government to assume a lead role in national disaster management. Senators further discussed Starred Questions concerning the dilapidated condition of the Lowari Tunnel and the need to construct the Arando and Garam Chashma Roads up to the Shah Salim border in Chitral.
Concluding the meeting, Pervaiz Rashid emphasized transparency, accountability, and urgency in the post-flood recovery process. “We are reviewing the NHA’s flood-related damage today,” he said. “It is now imperative that all levels of government respond in unison.” He reaffirmed that the Senate Communications Committee would continue to monitor progress on reconstruction efforts, adding that reforms under Kamil Ali Agha were underway and the NHA must extend full cooperation to the committee.
