Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Senator Saifullah Abro, convened at the Parliament House to scrutinize the progress and implementation of various transportation and communication projects across Pakistan. The meeting focused on projects funded by international partners such as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank, as well as ongoing issues such as land acquisitions and project delays.
According to Senate of Pakistan, the session began with a review of the implementation of past committee recommendations. The Additional Secretary of the Economic Affairs Division reported on the status of projects in the communications sector, including national highways, motorways, and road infrastructure initiatives. These projects, supported by multilateral and bilateral agreements and UN agencies, span back to 2002 and include details on proposals, tendering processes, and current progress.
The Committee examined a summary of 16 projects funded by the Asian Development Bank with disbursements totaling 1,331.04, and five projects funded by the World Bank with disbursements amounting to 1,754. Senator Abro suggested adding updates on the tender process to enhance clarity. Discussions also covered projects with bilateral partners including ongoing projects with Korea and a project with the Saudi Fund for Development which has not yet disbursed funds. Completed projects with Saudi Fund, China, Japan, Kuwait Fund, and USAID were also reviewed.
Updates on ongoing transport sector projects were provided by the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Communications. He highlighted issues such as land acquisition, which are being addressed. Senator Abro called for a detailed breakdown of project costs and suggested proposing amendments to the Land Acquisition Act. He also stressed the need for clarity on the progress of ongoing transport projects, particularly highlighting the risks of assigning projects to ineligible companies, using the Qila Saifullah-Zhob N-50 Highway as an example.
The Chairman of the National Highway Authority (NHA) assured the committee of strict monitoring to ensure transparency and proposed penalties for contractors who fail to complete projects on time. Senator Abro emphasized the need for specifying start and completion dates for each project component to ensure accountability.
The committee also discussed the Peshawar Torkhum Expressway and the Khyber Pass Economic Corridor, noting that the submission date for proposal bids had been extended to June 26, 2024. Concerns about the country’s continued reliance on IMF loans and the lack of accountability for funds allocated to Members of the National Assembly were also voiced.
In his concluding remarks, Senator Abro recommended that the Ministry of Communications provide detailed information on all projects from 2002 to June 2024, including advance payments and bid securities verified by the concerned bank and endorsed by the State Bank of Pakistan. The agenda item was deferred for further discussion at the next meeting.
In attendance were Senator Kamran Murtaza, Senator Faisal Ali Subzwari, and the Secretary of Economic Affairs, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Economic Affairs.