The government has removed National Highway Authority (NHA) Chairman Sheheryar Sultan after an inquiry revealed alleged irregularities in the awarding of the Rs. 170 billion Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Tranche-III project. The inquiry report was submitted to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who approved the action.
According to an official notification issued by the Establishment Division, Sheheryar Sultan has been directed to report back to the division. Meanwhile, NHA Member Administration Omar Saeed Chaudhri has been repatriated to his parent department, the Ministry of Defence.
The removal comes shortly after the suspension of eight senior NHA officials who were accused of being involved in irregularities and ghost tendering linked to the CAREC Tranche-III project. The project, aimed at boosting regional road connectivity, has come under intense scrutiny over transparency and governance issues.
An NHA spokesperson said the decision came unexpectedly, noting that Sultan worked in his office until 6 p.m. on Wednesday. The removal was announced later that night, catching many within the organization by surprise.
Officials said the action followed findings that indicated procedural violations and weaknesses in oversight during the tendering process. Authorities are now reviewing whether procurement rules were properly followed in awarding contracts under the multi-billion-rupee infrastructure program.
The government has described the move as part of its broader effort to ensure accountability and restore confidence in public sector projects. It also aims to strengthen oversight mechanisms within departments handling large development contracts.
The NHA has been at the center of several major road infrastructure projects across Pakistan. With this recent leadership change, the government is expected to push for greater transparency, strict monitoring, and reforms to prevent future irregularities.
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Further investigations are ongoing, and more disciplinary actions may follow as authorities continue to examine the extent of the alleged misconduct in the CAREC Tranche-III project.
