NA panel for removal encroachments on service road of Lyari Expressway

ISLAMABAD: National Highway Authority (NHA), Frontier Works Organization (FWO) and commissioner Karachi have been directed by the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Communications to remove encroachments on service road of Lyari Expressway.

The committee showed its serious concerns on the fact that the government had already paid compensation to the land owners of the service road of Lyari Expressway but the land grabbers have again encroached the land of the service road. The committee directed that comprehensive report should be submitted in the next meeting.

The committee was informed that traffic jams on Peshawar-Islamabad (M-1) toll plaza at Islamabad was an issue. It was observed that, previously, there was only one toll plaza. But now the Communications Division and NHA have started to collect toll at two places i.e. at the end of M-1 and at start point of M-2. Due to double charge of toll, the traffic jams have started to occur.

The committee directed that there should be only one time toll receiving on whole of the motorway. The committee directed that Communications Division should take necessary steps to solve the issue.

The committee was informed that the Communications Division and Finance Division have not yet paid increase in 20% allowance to Motorway Police as approved by the prime minister.

The committee directed that the allowance should be paid to the employees of Motorway Police forthwith as approved by the prime minister in letter and spirit.

The committee further directed that while paying the allowances to National Highway and Motorway Police the inflation rate should be kept in mind and all frozen allowances should be defreeze.

The meeting was presided over Chairman, Standing Committee of National Assembly on Communications, Muhammad Muzammil Qureshi and attended by members National Assembly Sarzameen, Chaudhry Khalid Javid Warraich, Dr Darshan, Nazir Ahmed Bughio, Salim Rehman, Engr Hamid-ul-Haq Khalil, Naseema Hafeez Panezai and Shahjehan Muneer Mangrio.