NHA told to submit details of properties along M-9

The Sindh High Court on Wednesday directed the National Highway Authority (NHA) to submit details of properties within the limits of the motorway from Hyderabad to Karachi along with a statement on whether any leases were issued by the authority or its contractors to any petrol pumps, hotel or any other activities.

The direction came on a petition of the NHA seeking right of way and mutation of over 7,641 acres of land in its favour on the super and national highways under the NHA Act 1991. The Sindh government had earlier withdrawn a notification and reduced the limits of right of way provisional legislation.

During the hearing of the petition, a high court division bench headed by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar inquired the NHA counsel why the new motorway was not being constructed from Hyderabad to Karachi instead of declaring the Superhighway as motorway.

The court inquired how citizens who have properties along the Superhighway could be stopped from access. It observed that authorities will have to consider properties of citizens while constructing a motorway and providing basic facilities to them should be part of the motorway scheme.

The counsel for interveners submitted that Kabuli land and RoW is not applicable for their land and they will abide by the provisional laws. The interveners submitted that they were not being paid proper compensation from their respective land claimed for the purpose of the motorway.

The court directed the NHA to submit details of properties within the limits of the motorway from Hyderabad to Karachi along with a statement on whether any leases were issued by the NHA or its contractors to any petrol pump, hotel or any other activities.

The court directed the NHA to submit a statement with regard to the new motorway scheme like Multan to Sukkur and Islamabad to Peshawar by providing all basic facilities.

It also sought complete record of charges received by the SCORE Pvt. Ltd. from citizens in respect of toll from July 2023 to June 2024 and directed the NHA to submit a report by August 28.