Rs900 Million Approved for Hazara Motorway Repairs
The government has allocated Rs900 million for Hazara Motorway repairs after technical assessments found several sections damaged by road depressions and settlement. Minister of State for Interior Muhammad Talal Chaudhry told the Senate on Friday that remedial work had started on the affected sections.
The minister was answering a Calling Attention Notice moved by Senator Mohsin Aziz about the poor condition of the newly built motorway and the safety risks and inconvenience facing commuters. The E-35 Hazara Motorway project began in 2015 and reached completion in 2018. It went through feasibility assessments, technical evaluations and third-party inspections, including an assessment by an international firm.
Technical teams later identified around six to seven locations where depressions and settlement had developed. The government has now set aside Rs900 million for corrective work at those spots, and the minister said the repairs aimed to keep the motorway in good condition and ensure safe and smooth travel.
Why the state pays for Hazara Motorway repairs now
The timing of the damage explains why public money is involved. The two-year defect liability period for the project ended in 2020. Complaints about road depressions and settlement surfaced in 2024, four years after that period closed. When defects appear inside the liability period, the contractor normally fixes them at its own cost. When they appear years later, the cost usually falls to the state, unless a separate claim succeeds.
That distinction is the heart of this case. The motorway passed feasibility checks, technical evaluations and third-party inspections before completion, yet problems still appeared at six to seven locations. The technical study examined several possible causes, including rock conditions, soil composition and topography, before the allocation was made.
The matter has also reached the Peshawar High Court, with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government involved in the process. At Senator Mohsin Aziz’s request, the Senate chair referred the matter to the relevant committee for further consideration. The minister also offered to support further inquiries if required and urged lawmakers to allow the ongoing repair work to continue.
What commuters face
For commuters, the key question is practical: which sections are affected, how long repairs will take and whether lanes will close while work goes on. The minister did not give a completion date in the account of his Senate reply, and the committee referral means lawmakers will keep asking those questions.
Motorway users in Pakistan have grown used to road projects that arrive late or need early fixes. The Sambrial-Kharian Motorway has been followed closely for its progress, with an early finish now expected, while a diversion on the M-4 near Pindi Bhattian showed how quickly a route change affects drivers. The Rawalpindi Ring Road has been delayed for a sixth time, which shows that road timelines often slip even after opening dates are announced.
The Hazara route carries particular weight because it links Islamabad with the Hazara division and onward to the north. A damaged section there does not just slow cars. It affects freight, tourism and daily travel for people who depend on the road for work, school and hospital visits. Keeping the road safe therefore matters beyond the repair bill.
What happens next
Repairs have started, and the Senate committee will now examine the matter further. Three outcomes will show whether the Rs900 million is well spent. First, the repaired sections must hold, with no repeat depressions at the same spots. Second, the technical study should be published in enough detail for engineers outside the government to judge whether the cause was ground conditions, construction quality or both. Third, the court process and the committee review should say clearly who bears responsibility for problems that appeared after the liability period ended.
Until those answers come, commuters should expect repair work on the affected sections and plan for possible delays. The minister’s message to lawmakers was to let the work continue, and the chair’s referral to committee means oversight will continue alongside it.
The original report on this allocation was published by ProPakistani.
How much has been allocated for Hazara Motorway repairs?
The government has allocated Rs900 million to repair damaged sections of the Hazara Motorway.
What damage was found?
Technical assessments found road depressions and settlement at around six to seven locations on the motorway.
