Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed to enhance policing and patrolling on national highways and motorways, emphasizing that provision of the best travel facilities is a top priority of the government. He was chairing two separate meetings in Islamabad on matters related to the National Highway Authority and safety measures on national highways and motorways across the country.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister instructed the formation of a steering committee to review the development work of the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway, the construction of the remaining sections of the Rato Dero-Gwadar Motorway and Hyderabad-Karachi Motorway, the Karachi-Quetta-Chaman National Highway, and the reconstruction of certain parts of the Karakoram Highway.

National highways and motorways were described by the Prime Minister as the backbone of the country's economy. He ordered an acceleration of development work on these vital national projects as a priority. Additionally, Shehbaz Sharif directed the completion of repairs to all fences along the motorways within a month and called for strict action against those involved in the theft and sale of stolen fences.

The meeting was informed that legislation is being developed to declare motorways as a strategic asset, which will enable strict legal action against those who damage them. It was briefed that work on the first phase of the Lahore-Sahiwal-Bahawalnagar Motorway has begun, with land acquisition underway from Lahore Ring Road to Raiwind-Kasur Road. This project is expected to benefit several districts in South-East Punjab.

The meeting further revealed that 859 kilometers of the total 4,027 kilometers of protective fencing along the motorways have either been stolen or damaged. Over the last four years, 36 accidents have been reported, and 178 FIRs have been registered.