Islamabad:
A parliamentary body has raised serious concerns about the inclusion of dozens of non -approved schemes in the public sector development program (PSDP) and called to stop new highways in Punjab until other provinces completed ongoing projects.
The Senate Standing Committee for Planning, led by Senator Quratulain Marri, met the other day to review development allocations and project execution.
Officials from the Ministry of Planning revealed that RS1 trillion was used in the last financial year under PSDP, while 55 projects included in the current financial year program will not be approved.
The officials assured that no objection certificates (NOCS) were issued for new projects only after a full evaluation from the Planning Commission.
In a detailed orientation, the committee was informed that RS100 billion was earmarked for National Highway-5 (N-5) in Balochistan, with seven highway projects included, supported by foreign financing.
In addition, for the Hyderabad-Sukkur motorway (M-6), the Islamic Development Bank will finance three sections, while two more under public-private partnerships will be built.
Similarly, there were plans to upgrade the GT road between Hyderabad and Succur.
Senator Sadia Abbasi lamented the state of Islamabad’s most important public library and complained that “the books have been infected with termites”.
She announced plans for a new Allama Iqbal Research Center and Library in the Capital and insisted that development funds be used properly.
“Our remarks are often misinterpreted by officials as being anti-minister or anti-government,” she added.
The senator also questioned the need to establish a new National Heritage Center and said that several overlapping institutions were created without a clear need.
The President repeated the concerns and emphasized the importance of accountability in development expenses.
She said no new highways in Punjab should be constructed before underdeveloped provinces end their existing highway projects.
Senator Manzoor Kakar urged authorities to give the highest priority to end the York-Zhob section in the National Highway-50 (N-50) as it has a critical impact on Balochistan.
Meanwhile, the National Highway Authority (NHA) informed the plans to build a 16 kilometer long highway from Lahore to Raiwind and draw criticism from Senator Marri who asked, “Do you build a highway just for a house?”
