ISLAMABAD: The Senate Sub-Committee of the Standing Committee on Communications on Tuesday directed the Ministry of Finance and Planning Commission to release sufficient funds for ongoing National Highway Authority (NHA) projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as many road projects were being delayed due to scarcity of funds.
The sub-committee which met under the convenorship of Senator Zahid Khan here directed the officials of Planning Commission to holding early meeting of Central Development Working Party (CDWP) so that approval of PC-1 of Hassanabdal-Mansehra Expressway is given.
Without approval of PC-I of the project, the NHA cannot go for tendering of the project, Senator Zahid Khan said adding that if NHA cannot tender this project by June, it will face further delay due to start of new fiscal year.
He said being one of the most important projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, there was need to speed of the process of funds release for the E-35.Hesaid that without early completion of E-35 project work on Bhasha dam was not possible.
The sub-committee meeting was informed that Rs 500 million would be released for this project within days which would be sufficient to pay compensation to the owners of land whose land has been acquired for the project.
Secretary Communications Anwar Ahmed Khan told the sub-committee that Rs 2.750 bn were being released in coming few days for ongoing NHA projects out of which Rs 2 bn have been allocated for Multan road projects.
On this information Senator Zahid Khan issued summons for Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister for his alleged interference in the matters of National Highway Authority.
The Secretary Communications told the sub-committee that Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani would visit the Ministry of Communications tomorrow and he would be given briefing on the important ongoing projects of the NHA.
He hoped that the PM would ensure that NHA gets funds as per its spread and requirements.
The meeting was attended by Senator Ismail Buledi, Secretay, Acting Chairman NHA Muhammad Junaid and senior officials of Ministry of Communications, Finance and Planning Commission.
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