Quetta: The Balochistan High Court, in a recent session, reviewed the ongoing construction and funding status of the N25 Karachi, Khuzdar, Quetta-Chaman Road dualization project. The Biennial Bench, consisting of Mr. Justice Abdullah Baloch and Mr. Justice Iqbal Ahmed Kasi, addressed issues concerning the slow progress of the road construction despite sufficient funding, and directed relevant authorities to expedite the work.

According to Directorate General Public Relation – Govt of Balochistan, the court session included key participants such as Elhi Bakhsh Mengal Advocate, Najamuddin Mengal, Additional Attorney General, and representatives from the National Highway Authority (NHA) among others. The NHA confirmed that 40% of the N-25 Khuzdar-Kachlak section had been completed and assured the court of the federal government’s financial support, describing it as satisfactory.

During the proceedings, the court expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of construction on the critical Khuzdar-Karachi and Quetta-Chaman sections of the road. It directed the Planning Commission of Pakistan to ensure that all allocated funds were promptly released to NHA Balochistan. Additionally, the court was informed that the Hub River bridge, disrupted by recent rains, would be completed and opened for traffic within the month.

Further discussions revealed that all pending tenders for the project had been processed and their results would soon be published on the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority’s (PEPRA) website. The court also emphasized the importance of repairing the Saurabh-Gwadar section of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) road.

The session concluded with the court granting additional time for all parties involved to submit their progress reports by October 28, 2024, setting the date for the next hearing.