ISLAMABAD: The National Highways Authority (NHA) has planned to computerise its toll plazas on highways to ensure transparency in the toll collection system.

NHA Chairman Shahid Ashraf Tarar told a meeting on Monday that tax collected at the toll plazas was the main source of income for the authority but the income was lower than it should be because of lack of transparency.

Therefore, a decision has been made to make the toll collection system transparent by introducing computerised collection system which, the NHA authorities believe, will double the revenue.

The toll plazas located on motorways are already electronic.

Lack of transparency in toll collection system affecting NHA’s income, says chairman

Mr Tarar said income from weigh stations, police fine and private businesses set up on the NHA’s right-of-way were other sources of income for the authority.

“Recent reforms in the shape of key performance indicators have been introduced in the NHA and all sections concerned are bound to submit monthly performance and oil expenditure reports.

These have brought considerable transparency, efficiency and cost-effectiveness in the organisation.”

About road projects, he said Pak-China Economic Corridor, Karachi-Lahore Motorway and Hazara Expressway were on the top priority of the authority.

Most of NHA’s projects are financed by Asian Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank.

The Pak-China Corridor is 2,395km long and the Hazara Expressway is currently four-lane but can be upgraded to six-lane if required.

Secretary of communications Babar Yaqoob Fateh Mohammad, who chaired the meeting, said economic development of a country largely depended on its highway system.

Therefore, the ministry of communication and the NHA were working in harmony to improve the highway system of the country.

Mr Tarar said he and his team were trying to ensure timely completion of NHA projects in a transparent manner.

They intend to carry out all future projects on build-operate-transfer basis to save money.

He said completion of new highways would boost trade, tourism, industry and agriculture and revolutionise the economy.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd , 2014