Islamabad:
A parliamentary agency has raised serious concerns about the inclusion of dozens of schemes not approved in the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) and requested to stop new highways in Punjab until other provinces complete ongoing projects.
The Permanent Senate Planning Committee, chaired by Senator Quratulain Marri, met the other day to review development assignments and project execution.
Officials of the Ministry of Planning revealed that RS1 Billones were spent in the last fiscal year under PSDP, while 55 projects included in the current fiscal year program remain without approval.
The officials assured that objection certificates (NOC) would not be issued for new projects only after a complete evaluation by the Planning Commission.
In a detailed informative session, the committee was informed that RS100 billion had been assigned for National Highway 5 (N-5) in Baluchistan, with seven road projects included, backed by foreign funds.
In addition, for the Hyderabad-Sukkur Highway (M-6), the Islamic Development Bank will finance three sections, while two lower public-private associations will be built.
Similarly, plans were being made to improve the GT road between Hyderabad and Sukkur.
Senator Sadia Abbasi deplored the main public library of the state of Islamabad, regretting that “the books have been infested with termites.”
She announced plans for a new Alma Iqbal Research and Library Center in the capital and insisted that the development funds should be used properly.
“Our comments are often erroneously interpreted by officials as anti-minis or anti-government,” he added.
The senator also questioned the need to establish a new National Heritage Center, saying that multiple overlapping institutions were being created without a clear need.
The president echoed the concerns, emphasizing the importance of responsibility in development expense.
She said that new highways in Punjab should not be built until the underdeveloped provinces complete their existing highways.
Senator Manzoor Kakar urged the authorities to give the highest priority to complete the York-Zhob section of National Highway-50 (N-50), since it has a critical importance for Baluchistan.
Meanwhile, the National Road Authority (NHA) informed the Committee of Plans to build a 16 -kilometer highway from Lahore to Raiwind, causing criticism of Senator Marri, who questioned: “Are you building a highway just for a house?”
