PESHAWAR:Caretaker Minister for Communications and Works and Irrigation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Engineer Ahmed Jan Khan on Wednesday applauded the pivotal role played by the KP Highway Authority (KPHA) in the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of major highways in the province.
He underscored the authority’s commitment to maintaining high construction standards in its projects and urged an increase in its productivity. The minister pledged efforts to bolster this vital institution and enhance its effectiveness.
These remarks were made during a meeting regarding the KPHA held in the committee room of the Department of Communications and Works. The meeting was chaired by Engineer Ahmed Jan Khan and attended by Engineer Adnan Khan, Project Director of Swat Expressway, Engineer Barkatullah, and other officials.
The caretaker minister received a comprehensive briefing on the ongoing highway construction projects carried out by the Highway Authority in the province, including updates on the status of these projects.
During the meeting, it was explained to the caretaker minister that the government had established this institution to oversee the planning, design, construction, improvement, and maintenance of provincial highways. Currently, the authority has successfully constructed 53 highways across the province, and it has also completed 444 km of highways in the merged districts. Notably, KPHA has generated approximately Rs 218 million in revenue from various sources, including toll tax and other avenues, as of June 2023.
The authority manages 39 ongoing and 6 new projects under the Annual Development Program (ADP), as well as 8 ongoing projects under the Accelerated Implementation Program for the merged districts. Additionally, 2 ongoing projects are part of the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP).
The minister was further informed that the Highway Authority has constructed around 80 bridges in the province, converted 309 kilometres of provincial highways into two-lane roads, and reconstructed 720 kilometres of existing highways.
Furthermore, the first phase of the Swat Motorway has been completed, and work has commenced on planning and designing the 80 km long Phase 2 of this highway under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
The authority has also successfully restored flood-affected roads.
In response to these updates, the caretaker minister expressed his satisfaction with KPHA’s performance, recognizing it as a crucial provincial institution responsible for the construction, repair, and maintenance of significant highways.
He urged the authority to take effective measures to boost its revenue and enhance its service delivery speed to capitalize on opportunities for long-term planning and development.
The caretaker minister also directed the authority to submit the required staff postings for further processing, acknowledging its vital role in the development sector.