Karachi: In a significant judicial directive, the Sindh High Court (SHC) has ordered the National Highway Authority (NHA) to furnish detailed information about properties along the Karachi-Hyderabad motorway. The court's demand includes specifics on any leases for services like filling stations and hotels. This decision emerges amidst a series of petitions concerning land disputes along this critical infrastructure corridor.
According to Zameen.Com, a two-judge bench consisting of Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Amjad Ali Sahito issued the order on Wednesday. The directive follows roughly 70 petitions filed over the last four years, primarily concerning property rights and disputes along the motorway.
The controversy centers around the NHA's management of the Right of Way (ROW), which has been challenged by both the Sindh government and numerous private petitioners. The government had previously adjusted the ROW boundaries and nullified certain land mutations, which the NHA argues were unauthorized changes that lacked compensation.
Moreover, the private firm SCORE, responsible for the motorway's operation since 2015 under a build-operate-transfer model, is also compelled to report financial earnings from the motorway's access points over the past year. This encompasses all revenue from July 2023 to June 2024.
The court's extensive inquiry not only covers the existing conditions but also extends to upcoming projects, including new motorway segments from Jamshoro to Karachi and Multan to Sukkur, as well as improvements on the Islamabad to Peshawar stretch. The outcomes of these disclosures could significantly impact future operations and legal standings regarding the motorway's land use and development rights.
The hearings are set to continue, with the next session scheduled for August 28, promising further developments in this complex legal landscape surrounding one of Pakistan's major transport routes.