News
NHA Given Two-Month Deadline to Complete Multan–Muzaffargarh–Mianwali Highway
By Mariam Khan
Real Estate Analyst
3 min read
Federal Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan has directed the National Highway Authority (NHA) to complete the Multan–Muzaffargarh–Mianwali highway within two months. The same infrastructure review produced several other directives: to prepare a feasibility study for a 123-kilometre Mansehra–Naran road, to begin international tendering for the proposed Guru Nanak Expressway, to review ongoing construction along G.T. Road between Rawalpindi and Peshawar, and to introduce additional safety measures on the Pindi Bhattian–Faisalabad section of the M-4 Motorway. These are project instructions and planning milestones. They are not confirmation that the proposed new roads have entered construction.
Why a Two-Month Deadline Is an Instruction and Not a Completion Date
The minister has ordered completion within two months. The reports we have seen do not say how much of the Multan–Muzaffargarh–Mianwali highway remains to be built, so we cannot say whether the deadline is realistic. Deadlines of this kind have been set before on NHA projects, as in our reports on 16 major NHA projects nearing completion and the NHA's progress review on motorways, and whether this one is met will be visible by December.
Why Three of the Directives Are About Planning and Not Construction
The Mansehra–Naran road is at the feasibility-study stage, and the Guru Nanak Expressway is at the stage of beginning international tendering. Neither is under construction. A feasibility study does not commit the government to building the road, and tendering does not guarantee that bids will be received or an award made. The reports do not give costs, timelines or funding for either.
Why Reviews and Safety Measures Are Also Part of the List
The remaining directives are to review ongoing construction on G.T. Road between Rawalpindi and Peshawar, and to introduce additional safety measures on the Pindi Bhattian–Faisalabad section of M-4. These are reviews of work already under way, and neither is described as a new project. The Pindi Bhattian–Faisalabad motorway expansion was among the projects set to be inaugurated in our earlier report on the NHA review. The reports on this meeting do not say what safety measures are planned.
Why This Comes Alongside the Audit Order
The directives follow the Prime Minister's order for third-party audits of all ongoing NHA projects and a push for PPP financing. The reports do not say whether the two-month deadline is connected to that order, so we have not assumed a link.
Why Highways Matter for Property
Better highway connectivity could improve freight movement and regional accessibility, and create opportunities for roadside commercial development. The Mansehra–Naran proposal could also support tourism-related property investment if it proceeds, but at the feasibility stage that is a distant possibility. Land prices near proposed roads can rise on expectation alone, which is a risk for buyers.
What This Means for Landowners, Businesses and Investors
Owners and businesses along the Multan–Muzaffargarh–Mianwali route should watch whether the two-month deadline is met before assuming a change in access. Those looking at land near the Mansehra–Naran or Guru Nanak Expressway proposals should wait for approved routes and funding. The signals to watch are the NHA's progress reports, the feasibility study and the tender notices. Updates are published by the NHA.