Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan has directed the establishment of new toll plazas across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to increase revenue collection on highways and motorways in the province.
The directive was issued while the minister chaired a meeting in Islamabad, where National Highway Authority (NHA) officials briefed him on periodic works, routine maintenance, and pending financial liabilities. During the session, approvals for several outstanding liabilities were also sought.
The minister instructed the Secretary Communications to formally consult the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and communicate the plan to the chief minister and chief secretary regarding the placement of new toll plazas. He stressed that revenue generation was essential for sustaining development and maintenance activities.
He said the funds collected from toll plazas would be reinvested in the highway network in KP. He noted that the province would directly benefit from the revenue generated within its jurisdiction, particularly from tourism-related traffic.
The minister further directed the Secretary Communications to personally visit projects with pending liabilities and assess whether payments should be approved. He ordered that any project with liabilities exceeding Rs10 million must undergo physical verification before release of funds, adding that payments would only be made after thorough inspection.
Responding to reports of damage to toll facilities, the minister warned that vandalism at toll plazas or any harm to government property would not be tolerated. He directed the NHA to take immediate legal action, including lodging FIRs, against those involved.
He also said he would not allow routine maintenance projects, arguing that such works often create opportunities for corruption. He emphasised that accountability must be ensured at all levels and that it was not sufficient for one official to be upright while subordinates engaged in corrupt practices.
Secretary Communications Ali Sher Mehsud and senior officials attended the meeting.
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