ISLAMABAD, March 4: Federal Communications Secretary Tariq Mahmood has termed the Islamabad-Muzaffarabad dual carriageway a challenge for the National Highway Authority (NHA) and stressed the need to pay particular attention towards the project.

Speaking at a briefing session held at the NHA headquarters here on Friday, the secretary said the authority was doing a commendable job for establishment of a coordinated road network.

He said national highways played a vital role in socio- economic uplift of the country. NHA Chairman Maj-Gen Farrukh Javed apprised the federal secretary about the highway projects and functioning of the authority. Senior officers of the NHA were also present.

The secretary said availability of highways network cast positive effects on environment, economy, lifestyle and agricultural and industrial development of a particular region.

Being a federal department, the NHA should maintain constant liaison with provincial governments during planning and implementation of highway projects so that maximum benefits could be taken from such schemes, he said.