Islamabad:
A parliamentary agency expressed serious concerns on Tuesday about the award of an important road construction contract to a company in the blacklist, which increases alarms on transparency, procedure failures and delays in financing in the Rajanpur-Dera Ismail Khan section of the Indo road project.
The Permanent Communications Committee of the Senate, which met in the Chamber of Parliament with its president Senator Pervaiz Rasheed, grilled officials of the National Highway Authority (NHA) on the stagnant progress of the project, the insufficient assignment in the current PSDP and the decision to grant the contract despite the alleged black recruit of the contractor.
According to NHA officials, five derivations are planned between Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan. While the funds for some deviations have already been approved, others were still pending.
They said that so far RS6.7 billion for the project have been published, but an additional 11 billion rupees is needed. Partial funds for the Jampur segment have already been transferred to the National Treasury.
The NHA officials informed the committee that a total of 11 omission will be built under this project and that the estimated cost of land acquisition is only 11 billion.
The president of the NHA also clarified that the payments for the construction of seven derivations have been made completely, although there is still a financing deficit of RS5 billion for land acquisition.
He also expressed concern that the necessary funds for this project have not been assigned in the current PSDP of the fiscal year.
Senator Zameer Hussain raised concerns about the construction company granted by the contract.
He said the company was on the blacklist and questioned how the NHA Board approved said contract.
“If this company has been awarded the contract, it would be an important mistake,” said Senator Saifullah Abro. “As president of the Division of the Permanent Committee of Economic Affairs of the Senate, I can confirm that we celebrate a meeting on this same issue.”
Senator Abro criticized the management of the matter by the NHA, accusing the authority to publish a press release contradicts the Senate press release. “The NHA press release is equivalent to disrespect for the entire Senate,” he said. He demanded that a subcommittee be formed to investigate the problem.
Senator Kamil Ali Agha supported the demand, saying: “This is a serious stain in NHA’s reputation and the loss must be addressed.” He added that if the NHA manages to justify its position, it would be willing to resign.
Senator Zameer also said that the honor of Parliament had been insulted and requested a formal action.
Senator Abro pointed out that the Senate’s media wing had not mentioned a company on the blacklist. Even so, Nha had reacted strongly.
The Committee also reviewed toll rates from 2023 to 2025.
