Islamabad Capital Territory

Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan
The National Highway Authority (NHA) will engage foreign engineering experts to improve highway design, strengthen road engineering standards and align future road projects with modern international practices, Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan has directed.
The minister issued the instructions during a high-level meeting that reviewed the NHA’s ongoing and proposed development projects, revenue generation, road safety measures, development programmes and financial matters.
Abdul Aleem Khan expressed reservations over the design of the M-4 and certain other highways, stressing that road infrastructure should provide motorists with safer and more comfortable journeys. He said protection of human life must remain the foremost priority in the planning and construction of highways.
The minister directed NHA engineering teams to study and adopt international best practices in highway planning and design. He also ordered officials to strengthen engineering standards for new road projects so that safety considerations are incorporated from the design stage rather than addressed only after construction.
The meeting was informed that the NHA administers only 3.13% of Pakistan’s total road network, yet more than 80% of the country’s traffic travels on roads under its management. The figures highlighted the strategic importance of improving the safety, quality and capacity of the national highway network.
Officials also briefed the minister on financing arrangements for the M-6 Motorway, development schemes being executed under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and NHA projects in all four provinces.
The minister was further informed that the NHA has achieved its revenue enhancement target set two years ago. He said revenue generated through existing sources should be utilised to support the construction of new roads and strengthen the authority’s development capacity.
The meeting also decided to approach the federal government for Rs108 billion in funding for NHA projects in Balochistan. The proposed funding is aimed at supporting road infrastructure development in the province and improving connectivity across its strategically important corridors.
The planned engagement of foreign experts is expected to provide technical input into highway engineering and design standards, while the NHA’s focus on road safety could influence the planning of future motorways and major highways across Pakistan. Improved road connectivity and safer infrastructure can also enhance access to commercial centres, industrial areas and emerging residential and property developments along major transport corridors.

Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan
The government has introduced the E-Filing Rules 2026 to facilitate overseas Pakistanis involved in property and other legal disputes, establishing a digital mechanism through which petitions, documents and court proceedings can be handled electronically.
The new framework is expected to provide greater ease to overseas Pakistanis dealing with property related litigation in Pakistan, particularly those who face difficulties travelling to the country for repeated court appearances and procedural requirements.
Under the rules, eligible overseas litigants will be able to submit petitions, applications and supporting documents electronically before designated special courts. The system is designed to reduce reliance on physical filing and enable litigants to pursue cases remotely.
The rules also provide for video-link hearings, allowing overseas Pakistanis to participate in court proceedings without necessarily being physically present in Pakistan. This facility could be particularly relevant in property disputes, where owners residing abroad may need to remain involved in proceedings concerning land, residential plots, houses, commercial properties and other immovable assets.
Another key feature of the framework is the use of electronic notices. Designated courts will be able to communicate notices to overseas litigants digitally, while judgments and decrees will also be uploaded to the relevant online portal for electronic access.
The rules establish procedures for preserving electronic evidence and maintaining court records in digital form, creating a structured framework for handling documents and evidence submitted through the online system.
At the same time, the government has retained safeguards for cases where digital filing is not possible. Paper based filing will remain available in such circumstances, while an alternative mechanism will also operate during disruptions or technical failures in the online system.
The government says the new system is intended to improve access to justice for overseas Pakistanis by reducing physical visits, streamlining procedural requirements and expanding digital access to court services.
For overseas property owners, the framework could make it easier to pursue or defend property claims from abroad while maintaining access to official court records, notices, evidence and final decisions through digital channels.

Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to inaugurate three major road infrastructure projects in the coming months as construction work on the schemes approaches completion, Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan said during a review meeting of the National Highway Authority (NHA).
The projects include the Lodhran/Multan Expressway, Peshawar Northern Bypass and expansion of the Pindi Bhattian/Faisalabad Motorway. According to the minister, work on these schemes is progressing toward completion and preparations will be made for their formal inauguration by the prime minister.
The projects are part of the federal government’s broader effort to expand and upgrade Pakistan’s national highway network, improve intercity connectivity and strengthen road infrastructure supporting trade, transport and regional economic activity.
The NHA meeting reviewed progress on ongoing and proposed infrastructure schemes, along with road safety, revenue enhancement, development programmes and the authority’s financial position.
The minister was also briefed on progress on the Sialkot/Kharian Motorway, where construction activity is moving ahead at a fast pace. Meanwhile, work has commenced on the Karachi/Quetta/Chaman Pakistan Expressway (N-25), a strategically important road corridor connecting major areas of Sindh and Balochistan.
During the meeting, Abdul Aleem Khan directed the NHA to take immediate measures to address the deteriorating condition of the Lahore/Gujranwala GT Road. He stressed the need for urgent rehabilitation and maintenance work to provide relief to motorists and improve travel conditions along the heavily used route.
Officials also presented updates on financing arrangements for the M-6 Motorway, projects being executed under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and NHA schemes being implemented across all four provinces.
The government’s road development programme is expected to have wider implications for passenger and freight movement, particularly along major intercity and trade corridors. Improved motorway and highway connectivity can also support commercial activity and influence development patterns around transport routes by improving access between urban centres, industrial areas and emerging residential and commercial locations.