Minister says Sambrial-Kharian motorway to cut Lahore-Rawalpindi trip by 100km

Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan said the Sambrial-Kharian Motorway will shorten the road distance between Lahore and Rawalpindi by 100 kilometres and save more than an hour of travel time, addressing the business community at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Sambrial lies near Sialkot and Kharian in Gujrat district, and the new link is intended to give the two cities a more direct route than the existing M-2 Motorway. Khan did not announce a completion date or a cost for the project during the address, according to ProPakistani.

Khan said the shorter route would make journeys between Punjab's two largest cities more efficient for commuters and for freight operators, and described infrastructure development as a priority for his ministry.

On the financial side, the minister said the National Highway Authority was working to raise its revenue from Rs 66 billion to Rs 160 billion while capping administrative expenses at Rs 50 billion. He said the aim was to improve the authority's financial management so that road construction could be funded without placing an additional burden on the public exchequer.

Khan also said the Ministry of Communications, the NHA and the Motorway Police would hold regular meetings with representatives of the Lahore Chamber to address concerns affecting trade and industry, and he stressed cooperation with the business community.

Samaa television reported the same address as the unveiling of Pakistan's motorway expansion plans. Its report carried no details beyond that framing of the announcement, and no further projects or timelines were given in the accounts available.

The minister's remarks come as his ministry and the NHA face pressure to fund a growing road programme from their own resources rather than through fresh federal grants. No figures for the Sambrial-Kharian alignment, its length in kilometres, or the number of lanes were disclosed at the Lahore event.