The Senate Standing Committee on Communication expressed serious concerns over the status of ongoing road projects, citing that they receive only 10 to 15 percent of funds annually. This lack of funding leads to delays, cost escalation, and disputes between the National Highway Authority (NHA) and contractors.
Committee Meeting and Progress Review
Under the chairmanship of Senator Prince Ahmed Umer Ahmedzai, the committee held a meeting to examine the progress of ongoing and completed projects, the total revenue generated by the NHA, and other administrative matters.
Minister’s Absence Raises Eyebrows
During the meeting, committee members expressed reservations about the minister’s persistent absence from the sessions. They voiced concerns that the minister might not be fully engaged in resolving issues faced by the general public.
Recovery from Devastating Floods and Future Preparedness
The committee also received briefings on the repair and renewal work of projects affected by last year’s devastating floods. Additionally, they inquired about the NHA’s preparedness for handling floods this year.
Novel Bridge Structures for Flood-Affected Areas
It was revealed that the NHA, in collaboration with NESPAK, is working on innovative structures and alignments for bridges affected by floods. The NESPAK will provide the structural design, and the NHA will present the realignment plan for the Pinjra Bridge in the next meeting. The entire project is estimated to take around 2 years for completion. The NHA is also conducting a comprehensive hydrogel study of its network to address future floods in the country.
Revenue and Utilization Details
The committee received a detailed briefing on the revenue generated by the NHA since January 2019, including toll tax and other sources, along with its utilization on an annual and monthly basis.
Toll Earnings Breakdown
During the briefing, it was disclosed that the NHA earned a total of Rs. 135.488 billion in toll revenue from January 2019 to June 2023. Out of this total, motorways contributed Rs. 44.376 billion, while National Highways contributed Rs. 91.111 billion. The committee was informed that Rs. 112.187 billion was utilized for maintenance purposes.
Delays in Inaugurated Projects
The committee expressed concern over the delays in ongoing projects that were inaugurated by the prime minister since January 1, 2023.
Request for Project Details and Liabilities
The committee chairman requested detailed information on all delayed projects from the last 5 years, as well as the cost of liability for each project paid to the contractors.
