ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, led by Senator Quratulain Marri, convened at Parliament House to assess the implementation of the National Action Plan on Population and scrutinize the progress of projects managed by the National Highway Authority (NHA).
According to Senate of Pakistan, the Committee was briefed by the Ministry of National Health Service, Regulation & Coordination, revealing that the National Action Plan on Population, approved in May 2021 with a budget of Rs. 1,996.683 million, spans across ten districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, fourteen districts of Gilgit-Baltistan, and Islamabad Capital Territory. The Committee learned that Rs. 1,679.6 million is allocated for the import of contraceptives, while Rs. 250 million is set aside for media campaigns and additional contraceptive procurement for the fiscal year 2026-27.
The Committee expressed concern over outdated demographic data, highlighting the necessity of timely surveys by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics for effective planning. The Chairperson directed the Ministry to provide a comprehensive briefing on various aspects of the project in the next meeting.
In examining NHA projects, the Committee reviewed the status of Cash Development Loan-financed projects, noting delays in implementing the Economic Coordination Committee’s decision on project restructuring. The NHA reported ongoing efforts to restructure debt in collaboration with the Ministry of Communication and Finance Division.
The Committee was updated on the M-6 Motorway Project, with its groundbreaking anticipated this year, and on the N-5 Highway rehabilitation, supported by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Progress on the foreign-funded N-55 Project was also reviewed, noting challenges in meeting completion deadlines for certain segments.
Concluding the session, Senator Marri emphasized prioritizing the completion of current development projects before initiating new ones, ensuring efficient use of public resources.