ISLAMABAD, Oct 11: The National Highway Authority has been enabled to achieve financial discipline for the first time, claimed its Chairman Maj-Gen Farrukh Javed.

He was speaking at the 114th National Highway Executive Board meeting held in the NHA head office here on Saturday.

The meeting okayed a Rs25.84 billion budget of the NHA which will be put before a National Highway Council meeting for final approval.

It was also decided that fast track strategy would be applied to the NHA projects to be submitted to Ecnec for approval.

The board also gave approval to the contract of widening and strengthening of National Highway (N-70), Qila Saifullah-Loralai-Bewata Road, and the amount of compensation (Rs200,000) to a driver of the NHA who lost both his legs in a road accident.

Participants of the meeting were: Malik M. Saeed Khan, member/additional secretary of the planning and development division; Musadaq Muhammad Khan, senior joint secretary of the Ministry of Communications; Amjad Virk, NHA member finance; Kiramatullah Chaudhry, vice-president Nespak; Raja Nowsherawan, member planning; Muhammad Ismail Qureshi, additional secretary finance division; Muhammad Kazim Idrees, acting chief NTRC; Brig Imtiaz Hussain, director-general administration; Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry, sectretary NHA; Col Misbahur Rehman, director vigilance; Chaudhry Khalid Naseem, NHA director coordination, and public relations director Samina Viqar.