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Express Tribune
05-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Govt seeks Chinese, AIIB support for road projects
Listen to article Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan held a detailed meeting with Chairman of the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), Du Fei, during his visit to Tianjin. The focus was on expanding Chinese investment in Pakistan's road infrastructure. The two sides discussed bilateral cooperation in road development, especially projects like the Mansehra-Naran-Jhal Kand Motorway. Investment opportunities, technical assistance, and future collaboration were also reviewed, said a statement issued on Friday. Fei explained that CRBC, a major Chinese state-owned firm, operates in over 70 countries across Asia, Europe, America, and Africa. He expressed interest in expanding operations in Pakistan and called it an honour to contribute to its infrastructure. Between 1995 and 2023, CRBC was involved in key projects such as the Sukkur Bypass, Karakoram Highway, and Karachi Coastal Highway. Since last year, it has shown interest in new ventures like the ML-1 Railway Project, Pakistan Refinery upgrades, Lahore Airport expansion, and the Raikot-Thakot Highway. Aleem Khan assured CRBC of full support and welcomed its role in strengthening Pakistan's road infrastructure. In another meeting, the minister met senior officials of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), including Chief Investment Officer Konstantin Limitovskiy and Director General Public Sector Xiaohong Yang. He presented the M-6 Sukkur-Hyderabad and M-9 Karachi-Hyderabad motorways as investment options. He said these projects link trade hubs to Karachi Port and are vital for economic growth. Developing road infrastructure is a top government priority, he added. The minister said AIIB's partnership could speed up Pakistan's development. He noted that Pak-China friendship supports regional connectivity and prosperity. He also mentioned that several Chinese financial institutions are already funding infrastructure projects in Pakistan. Aleem Khan reaffirmed the government's aim to attract more foreign investment in roads and connectivity. He said infrastructure investment leads to job creation and economic growth. Senior AIIB officials expressed interest in supporting Pakistan's development initiatives and voiced hope for positive outcomes from the discussions.
Business Recorder
13-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Regional Transport Ministerial Conference to be held in Oct: minister
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has decided to host a two-day Regional Transport Ministerial Conference in October 2025 which will bring together key regional stakeholders. China, Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Central Asian States will be invited to attend this summit. This was disclosed by Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan while chairing a high-level consultative meeting in Islamabad, here on Thursday. The federal minister stated that countries such as Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Iran will also be invited to attend this conference. The aim is to strengthen both business-to-business and government-to-government connectivity across South Asian and Central Asian countries, he added. Highlighting the strategic importance of access to warm waters for Central Asian countries, Aleem Khan emphasised that the expansion of rail, road and air linkages will be a key theme of the conference. He directed that the objectives of the regional gathering should be clearly defined, with safety and security treated as top priorities. Furthermore, Aleem Khan instructed that international development partners such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and other relevant institutions be invited to participate, as well. Domestic stakeholders including Pakistan Railways, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and other concerned departments will also be on boarded for this initiative. The federal minister directed the formation of an Administrative Committee to ensure seamless organisation of the summit. He confirmed that the deputy prime minister of Pakistan will lead the conference, underlining the importance of maximising its outcomes. He stated that a core objective of the event is to offer countries such as Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and other Central Asian Republics access to Pakistan's ports in Gwadar and Karachi. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
26-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Motorways in Sindh top priority of federal govt: Aleem
KARACHI: Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan has said that the construction of motorways in Sindh is a top priority of the government, and the M-6 and M-10 motorways will be launched simultaneously, as the M-6 is Pakistan's lifeline, which was unfortunately neglected by previous governments. Talking to the media along with Arif Habib chairman Arif Habib Group here on Monday, he said that a motorway will be incomplete in its utility without being connected to the Ports and both the M-6 and M-10 will be linked to the Karachi Port to ensure their full functionality. Highlighting the significance of the M-6 Project, the minister informed that it is a nearly Rs 400 billion initiative comprising upon five sections, each approximately kilometres long. 'There is no better opportunity for investment than in this project,' he pointed out. Aleem Khan said that financing has already been secured for two sections while discussions for the remaining three are ongoing. 'We will finalise the feasibility report and present it to the Prime Minister within the next 15 days,' he added. The federal minister further said that the motorways from Karachi to Hyderabad and from Hyderabad to Sukkur will be completed as early as possible while work on the N-25 Highway from Karachi to Quetta is also scheduled to begin later this year. 'Karachi's challenges are not just provincial, they are national issues and we will address them on a priority,' he emphasized. Replying to the questions, Khan stressed that his focus is on delivering progress rather than engaging in blame games. 'My effort is to prioritise the launch of motorway projects in Sindh; similarly, we are committed to completing the Kaghan-Naran motorway,' he said. He informed that the National Highway Authority (NHA) has recorded unprecedented growth in revenue over the current fiscal year and attaining the target from Rs 64 billion to Rs 110 billion while this additional income will be utilised into improving road infrastructure and constructing new motorways. To ensure road safety, he said that strict measures are being implemented against dangerous driving on motorways. 'Drivers exceeding 150 km/h are not only being fined but also facing FIRs,' he added. Mandatory use of M-Tags is helping reduce long queues, and staffing shortages in motorway police are being addressed,' Aleem Khan said. Regarding his visit to Karachi, the minister mentioned that he, along with the Federal Secretary Communications and Chairman of the NHA held meeting with the Chief Minister of Sindh and assured him of full support from his ministry. He also held a highly productive meeting with the business community led by Arif Habib, where investors expressed interest in participating in the development of Sindh's motorways and road networks. Additionally, he noted that a joint team is being formed to focus on additional options for the Lyari Expressway in Karachi, including improvements to interchanges and exploration of further development projects. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
26-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Sindh CM, Aleem discuss key highway projects in province
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Federal Minister for Communication Aleem Khan convened an extensive meeting with their respective teams to address outstanding issues, including the construction of the M-6 Hyderabad-Karachi Motorway, the opening of the Lyari Expressway (LEW) for heavy traffic, identifying engineering solutions for traffic problems at Sohrab Goth, the completion of the Jamshoro-Sehwan Road, and, additionally, the construction of an extra motorway named M-10 for port traffic directly to Hyderabad. The CM was assisted by Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon, Minister P&D Nasir Shah, Minister Works Ali Hassan Zardari, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Chairman P&D Najam Shah, Secretary Finance Fayaz Jatoi, Secretary Works Nawaz Sohoo, and Secretary Local Government Waseem Moazzam. The federal government delegation included Secretary for Communication Ali Sher Mehsud, Chairman NHA Sahibzada Sheharyar, NHA Members Mazhar Shah, Abdul Latif Mahesar, Ramesh Alias, and others. The discussions focused on major infrastructure projects, including the M-6 Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway, National Highways, Jamshoro-Sehwan Road, Lyari Expressway, and others. Chief Minister Murad Shah emphasised the importance of completing the M-6 Motorway, describing it as essential for maintaining the continuity of the motorway network from Karachi to Peshawar and Lahore. 'Without connecting the Karachi Port to the rest of the country through a motorway, the purpose of this entire network remains unfulfilled.' He expressed disappointment over delays in the M-6 project, despite its approval under the Prime Minister's directives. Federal Minister Aleem Khan acknowledged the necessity of integrating the motorway with Karachi Port, asserting that the entire route must ensure end-to-end connectivity. He informed that the M-6 project has been divided into five sections, with funding for three sections secured, and work on the remaining section ongoing. Aleem Khan stated that the project is being financed by the federal government, commercial banks, and some sections on a PPP basis. In response, the Chief Minister raised concerns about potential delays in the M-6 due to Public-Private Partnership (PPP) complications. He offered bridge financing of Rs. 40 to 50 billion from the Sindh government to expedite the project. 'We want immediate commencement of work on M-6.' The federal minister assured the CM that work would start in September. The CM and the federal minister agreed to engage their respective teams to assess if there is any need for bridge financing to fast track the M-6. They also discussed the Jamshoro-Sehwan, a 66-kilometre industrial highway, not yet completed by NHA despite the payment of Rs7 billion in 2017. Aleem Khan stated that the 66-km Sehwan to Manjhad road has been completed, while work on the 24-kilometre stretch from Manjhad to Khanot has already been commenced. He commented. The CM remarked that the Lyari Expressway (LEW) was intended to connect the port traffic to the motorway, which has not been realised because the NHA has categorised it as a track for light traffic. The NHA team informed the meeting that a third-party audit had declared the Lyari Expressway unsuitable for heavy traffic. However, they suggested allowing heavy traffic during non-peak hours. Murad Shah highlighted the traffic bottleneck at Sohrab Goth, where local and port traffic from the LEW converge. He proposed constructing a dedicated service road to separate city traffic from the traffic coming from the LEW. The meeting decided to implement an engineering solution to resolve traffic congestion at Sohrab Goth. The meeting also reviewed proposed M-10 New Karachi–Hyderabad Motorway. The planned route will connect the ICI Bridge, KPT, Gulbai, and Hub Chowki directly to Hyderabad. It was decided that full planning for the M-10 project would be carried out to ensure its execution. The motorway is expected to divert heavy and port traffic directly to Hyderabad, alleviating congestion within Karachi. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
26-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Construction of Sindh motorways ‘top priority', says Aleem Khan
Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan on Monday said construction of motorways in Sindh was a top priority of the government. Talking to the media in Karachi, Aleem Khan announced that the M-6 and M-10 motorways would be launched simultaneously, according to a press release shared by the Press Information Department (PID). 'The M-6 is Pakistan's lifeline which was unfortunately neglected by previous governments,' he added. The minister emphasised that the motorway would be incomplete in its utility without being connected to the C-Port and that both the M-6 and M-10 would be linked to the Karachi Port to ensure full functionality. Highlighting the significance of the M-6 Project, Aleem Khan shared that it was a nearly Rs400 billion initiative comprising upon five sections, each approximately of 60 kilometers long. 'There is no better opportunity for investment than this project.' He further said financing had already been secured for two sections while discussions for the remaining three were ongoing. 'We will finalise the feasibility report and present it to the prime minister within the next 15 days.' Motorways from Karachi to Hyderabad and from Hyderabad to Sukkur would be completed as early as possible while working on the N-25 Highway from Karachi to Quetta was also scheduled to begin later this year, the minister said. 'Karachi's challenges are not just provincial—they are national issues and we will address them on a priority basis,' he emphasised. Replying to questions, the federal minister stressed that his focus was on delivering progress rather than engaging in blame games. 'My effort is to prioritise the launch of motorway projects in Sindh, similarly, we are committed to completing the Kaghan-Naran Motorway.' Aleem Khan said the National Highway Authority (NHA) recorded 'unprecedented growth' in revenue over the current fiscal year and attaining the target from Rs64 billion to Rs110 billion while the additional income would be utilised into improving road infrastructure and constructing new motorways. To ensure road safety, the minister said strict measures were being implemented against dangerous driving on motorways. 'Drivers exceeding 150 km/h are not only being fined but also facing FIRs,' Mandatory use of M-Tags was helping reduce long queues, and staffing shortages in motorway police were being addressed, he added. Regarding his visit to Karachi, Aleem Khan mentioned that he, along with the Federal Secretary Communications and Chairman of the NHA held meeting with the Chief Minister of Sindh and assured full support from his ministry. He also held a meeting with the business community led by Arif Habib, where investors expressed interest in participating in the development of Sindh's motorways and road networks, the PID statement read. The minister noted that a joint team was being formed to focus on additional options for the Lyari Expressway in Karachi, including improvements to interchanges and exploration of further development projects.
