Govt decides to extend Murree Expressway by 70km to Muzaffarabad

ISLAMABAD: The government has approved a plan to extend the Murree Expressway (N-75) by 70 kilometres to Muzaffarabad, a decision made during a National Highway Authority (NHA) meeting on Thursday chaired by Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan.

The expressway has already undergone significant development during Khan’s tenure, including beautification, rehabilitation, and upgrade works that he personally reviewed during a visit in November last year.

According to the Ministry of Communications, the meeting focused on reviewing the NHA’s financial performance and setting infrastructure priorities for the current fiscal year.

As part of efforts to improve regional connectivity, the minister announced the extension, which will link Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) with Pakistan’s motorway and expressway network. The project is expected to provide residents with faster, safer, and more efficient travel.

Khan said the initiative would usher in a new era of modern transportation for the people of AJK, adding that they should have access to the same high-quality motorway infrastructure available in other parts of the country.

The minister also instructed NHA officials to prioritise the completion of ongoing infrastructure schemes instead of launching new projects. He directed the authority to focus on finishing 25 priority projects during the current fiscal year before taking up additional initiatives.

Among the key projects highlighted was the M-8 Motorway, with Khan calling for accelerated work on the Hoshab–Awaran Road and the Awaran–Nal section. He said these routes are crucial for enhancing trade with Iran and promoting tourism in the region.

Discussing the NHA’s financial future, Khan outlined plans to make the authority financially self-sufficient. He said the organisation would be restructured to generate up to Rs400 billion annually through its own revenue sources, reducing its reliance on federal government funding.

The meeting concluded after officials, including the Secretary for Communications and the NHA chairman, presented briefings on the authority’s financial closing and long-term operational strategy.

The Murree Expressway has been the site of several serious accidents in recent years. Earlier this month, 10 people lost their lives and 13 others were injured when a passenger van caught fire after plunging into a nullah while negotiating a turn, according to the National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP).