ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan on Tuesday paid tribute to police martyrs on Youm-e-Shuhada-e-Police, saying August 4 was an important day in the country’s national history.
He was addressing a ceremony held at the Motorway Police Headquarters Auditorium to mark Police Martyrs’ Day. Inspector General of Motorway Police Sultan Ahmad Chaudhry also attended the ceremony.
On arrival, the federal minister and the IG Motorway Police laid floral wreaths at the Martyrs’ Memorial and offered Fateha for the fallen personnel.
Speaking on the occasion, Abdul Aleem Khan said the martyrdom of Safwat Ghayoor remained a beacon of guidance for all security forces. He said the sacrifices of all martyrs, including 59 officers of the Motorway Police, were unforgettable.
He praised the Motorway Police as a role model for the nation and said steps were being taken to protect patrolling officers. The minister announced that modern police stations, dedicated parking facilities and emergency ambulance services were being established near toll plazas.
Referring to the National Highway Authority, the minister said NHA revenue had doubled from Rs66 billion in 2024 to over Rs127 billion in 2026. He said financial self-reliance had enabled Pakistan to expand its national highway and motorway network through local resources without outside dependence.
The minister also highlighted ongoing and planned infrastructure projects in Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan.
He said the extension of the Murree Expressway (IMDC) up to Muzaffarabad would provide international-standard travel facilities to the public. He added that the MNJC Motorway would serve as an alternative to the Karakoram Highway and strengthen strategic connectivity with China.
According to the minister, the Sialkot-Kharian-Rawalpindi Highway would reduce the distance between Islamabad and Lahore by 100 kilometres and save more than an hour of travel time.
In Karachi, he said, the M-10 and Lyari Expressway were helping streamline trade freight from Karachi Port, while physical work on the M-6 motorway would begin shortly.
Abdul Aleem Khan said construction work on the Guru Nanak Expressway, linking Kartarpur and Nankana Sahib, was underway to promote religious tourism and interfaith harmony for the global Sikh community.
He said infrastructure work was also progressing on tourist routes in Gilgit, while the N-25 highway was targeted for completion next year. In Balochistan, he added, M-8 motorway projects would strengthen regional connectivity and cross-border trade with Iran.
Addressing the ceremony, IG Motorway Police Sultan Ahmad Chaudhry paid tribute to the sacrifices of the martyrs and reaffirmed the department’s commitment to their families. He said the Motorway Police would always stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the families of martyrs and would never leave them alone.
