NHA speeds up road repairs in flood-hit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan directed round-the-clock NHA operations to restore flood-damaged roads and bridges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Federal Minister’s assurance
Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan held a telephonic conversation with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Saturday regarding the extensive damage caused by torrential rains and floods in the province. He expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and assured that the National Highway Authority (NHA) was fully mobilized to support the provincial government.
Ongoing restoration efforts
Abdul Aleem Khan said repair and reconstruction of damaged roads and bridges had already begun and that machinery and workforce from NHA offices in Punjab and Sindh had been deployed to assist operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He directed that officers remain in the field until all roads and bridges are restored, warning that negligence would not be tolerated.
Roads reopened for traffic
According to a briefing from the Federal Secretary Communications and the NHA Chairman, restoration work started immediately on Friday following the minister’s directions. The Mansehra-Naran-Jhal Khund Road (MNJ) was reopened for traffic, while the route from Balakot to Babusar Top has also been cleared.
Situation in northern areas
The report noted that several bridges on the Karakoram Highway and Jaglot-Skardu Road had collapsed and would take time to rebuild. However, traffic has been restored from Balakot to Karlat, Kawai and Shogran, where the Federal Secretary Communications is personally supervising the work.
High-level response teams
Soon after emergency reports were received, Abdul Aleem Khan dispatched the Secretary Communications to Gilgit-Baltistan and the NHA Chairman to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Five high-level operational teams were formed to clear landslides, reopen blocked roads, and take immediate measures in the affected regions.
Minister’s directive
The federal minister expressed satisfaction with the quick response of the NHA but instructed that restoration operations continue day and night using all available resources to minimize disruption for the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
