NA panel grills ministry over toll collection-spending gap

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Communications on Thursday questioned the Ministry of Communications over the gap between toll revenue collection and development spending, after officials disclosed that Balochistan has been allocated Rs. 128.8 billion, about 56 percent of the total Rs. 226.98 billion PSDP for 2025–26, despite contributing a nominal share of toll revenue.

The panel, which met at Parliament House under the chairmanship of Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani, MNA, also expressed concern over delays in road infrastructure projects, inequitable toll plaza policies, and governance issues within the National Highway Authority (NHA).

Raising issues related to Balochistan, Jamal Shah Kakar, MNA, said maintenance work in the province has remained suspended for the past two years, and several tendered projects have yet to commence. He cited major road projects, including Quetta–Zhob, Quetta–Loralai, and Quetta–Sibi, and called for a separate meeting on Balochistan.

The ministry told the committee that Punjab and Sindh generate most of the toll revenue, effectively subsidizing development in Balochistan. Officials also claimed that toll plazas in the province have been torched, affecting collections. Members from Balochistan rejected the claim, saying lower toll revenue reflects a smaller population and traffic volumes, not sabotage.

They asked the Ministry to provide details of any such incidents and stressed that Balochistan, which makes up 43 percent of Pakistan’s landmass, requires extensive road infrastructure after decades of supplying natural resources to the federation.

The Committee directed NHA officials and Members from Balochistan to hold consultations before the next meeting and instructed the Authority to complete ongoing projects before initiating new ones.

Discussing Sindh, the Secretary, Works and Services Department, said the province has contributed its due share, and that land acquisition payments are in progress. The Committee sought a detailed report on the Sukkur–Hyderabad Motorway (M-6), reports on alleged corruption in land acquisition highlighted in the media, and a comprehensive overview of provincial highways. It also recommended extending the M-6 from Karachi to Sukkur.

The Chairman expressed concern over the frequent transfer of the NHA Sindh Member and called for a permanent appointment. The Committee also sought an update on joint projects, particularly the Indus Highway, pending for the past nine years, and stressed the urgent construction of bridges to prevent accidents. Slow progress on the Kotri–Moro Road was also noted.

A Calling Attention Notice on the large number of toll plazas on the Karachi–Hyderabad Road was reconsidered, after which the Parliamentary Secretary for Communications assured the Committee that exemptions for residents would be implemented under the approved policy. The matter was subsequently closed.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025