Minister for Communications, Baber Khan Ghauri on Thursday asked National Highway Authority (NHA) to stop land allotment along national highways till a new standard operational procedure is introduced.
The minister took a serious view of encroachments on NHA plots along national highways on the pretext of constructing petrol pumps or CNG stations.
"To that effect the minister issued a clear directive to Chairman National Highway Authority, not to allot any NHA land for such purposes till a new standard operational procedure is devised covering all legal aspects and then put into operation," said a press release issued by the communication ministry.
The minister also directed that all previous allotments would stand cancelled except the sites on which work has been completed or was near completion.
Such constructions would be reviewed by a committee constituted in communication ministry comprising joint secretary, representatives of Vigilance Cell NHA and the Motorway Police.
This committee would fix the prices of such sites having relevance with the rates of lands prevalent in the vicinity.
Moreover, the facilities provided before the federalisation of roads would be regularised through a process within 60 days and a survey to that effect would be undertaken to identify the vacant plots to be disposed of through an open auction by giving wide publicity in all leading papers.