NHA revenue doubles to Rs110bn: minister

KARACHI: The National Highway Authority (NHA) has achieved a record 100 per cent increase in annual revenue, rising from Rs64 billion to Rs110 billion, marking a historic achievement for any government organisation in Pakistan.

Toll plaza revenue alone doubled, reaching Rs64 billion, signalling a milestone in the financial stability of the NHA. This was highlighted by Federal Minister for Communications, Privatization, and Board of Investment Abdul Aleem Khan during a high-level meeting held at the NHA Headquarters, where he inspected the National Traffic Operation Centre.

During his visit, Aleem Khan reviewed the NHA’s traffic monitoring and control system and directed that revenue collection reports be prepared daily. He expressed satisfaction that 99 per cent of vehicles on the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway have adopted the M-Tag system. He also instructed that camera monitoring from licence plates and vehicle sides be implemented, with real-time data accessible to the secretary of communications and the NHA chairperson.

The minister said that raising public awareness over the next two weeks about the benefits of the M-Tag system, which reduces travel time, deters theft and eases traffic congestion, is paramount. While speaking to monitoring officers at the control centre, he encouraged further automation of the traffic management system to streamline operations and address key challenges.

Reflecting on recent financial performance, Khan described the past six months’ revenue collection as encouraging, contributing to the NHA’s path to financial independence. He proposed that NHA employees receive bonuses and financial rewards in recognition of this record-breaking revenue growth.

Follow-up meeting with Saudi officials

Separately, Aleem Khan held a follow-up meeting with Saudi authorities via video link to discuss ongoing investment developments, following the recent visit of the Saudi delegation to Pakistan. The minister met with Saudi Assistant Minister of Investment Ibrahim Al-Mubarak to review strategies for advancing joint investment initiatives. Khan extended his appreciation to Saudi Investment Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Faleh for his positive response towards strengthening Pakistan-Saudi Arabia partnerships.

The Saudi assistant minister invited Khan to attend the upcoming investment expo in Saudi Arabia on November 25 and 26. During the meeting, both sides agreed to maintain regular follow-ups to ensure tangible progress on investment plans. Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ahmed Farooq, along with the federal secretary of commerce and secretary of the privatization commission, also participated in the virtual meeting, offering insights on the investment agenda.

Khan reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to facilitating Saudi investment initiatives and expressed readiness to expedite joint projects as outlined during the Saudi investment minister’s recent visit. Both parties underscored the importance of collaborative efforts in achieving practical outcomes and advancing economic cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.