In line with directives of State Minister for Communications Murad Saeed, the National Highway Authority (NHA) has accelerated its pace of removing encroachments along its network throughout the country. Under the 75 days action plan, the NHA has cleared 119 kanal land worth Rs 1.098 billion from the encroachers. The encroachment removal activity will be extended to 3,131 locations countrywide, in the coming days. As per details, 13 encroachments have been removed from Indus Highway and N-5 spreading over 45 marlas. In Multan, 57 encroachments are removed leading to clearing more than 101 marla land. In Bahawalpur, 55 encroachments at 72 marla, in Rahimyar Khan 425 encroachments from 1,036 marla, in Wazirabad 35 encroachments from 40 marla land, in Lahore 197 encroachments from 302 marla land and in Rawalpindi 561 encroachments at 841 marla land have been removed to date. This anti encroachment drive will continue until December 9, 2018 and 3,131 encroachments will be demolished. Necessary arrangements are underway to clear the right of way of NHA in Dera Ismail Khan and other cities. These encroachments are obstructing a free flow of traffic. Further vegetation cut work is also in progress along the NHA network to enhance the beauty of road network. Published in Daily Times, October 13th 2018.