ISLAMABAD, August 4, 2026: Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan on Tuesday paid tribute to police martyrs at a ceremony held at the Motorway Police Headquarters Auditorium to mark Youm-e-Shuhada-e-Police.
The minister attended the event as chief guest, while Inspector General of the National Highways and Motorway Police Sultan Ahmad Chaudhry was also present. On arrival, the federal minister and the IG Motorway Police laid floral wreaths at the Yadgar-e-Shuhada and offered Fateha for the martyrs.
Addressing the ceremony, Abdul Aleem Khan said August 4 was an important day in the country’s national history. He paid rich tribute to all police martyrs and said the martyrdom of Safwat Ghayoor remained a source of guidance for all security forces.
He said the sacrifices of all martyrs, including 59 brave officers of the Motorway Police, would never be forgotten. The minister described the Motorway Police as a role model for the entire nation.
To ensure the safety of patrolling officers, Abdul Aleem Khan 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 its revenue had doubled from Rs66 billion in 2024 to more than Rs127 billion in 2026. He said the authority’s complete financial independence had enabled Pakistan to expand its national highway and motorway network through indigenous resources, without relying on outside dependence.
The minister also briefed participants on 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) to Muzaffarabad would provide international-standard travel facilities to the public.
He said the MNJC Motorway would serve as an ideal alternative to the Karakoram Highway and would strengthen strategic connectivity with China. The Sialkot-Kharian-Rawalpindi Highway, he added, would reduce the distance between Islamabad and Lahore by 100 kilometres and save more than one hour of travel time.
In Karachi, Abdul Aleem Khan 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.
He further said construction work was under way on the Guru Nanak Expressway linking Kartarpur and Nankana Sahib to promote religious tourism and interfaith harmony for the global Sikh community.
The minister 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 said M-8 motorway projects would significantly strengthen regional connectivity and cross-border trade with Iran.
Speaking on the occasion, IG Motorway Police Sultan Ahmad Chaudhry also paid tribute to 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.
