Senate body directs actions against responsible of sub-standard road construction in Balochistan

ISLAMABAD, Dec 12 (EPI): Senate body has observed that sub-standard Jeeva Check Post road has been constructed under the supervision of NHA and consultant, adding that responsibility must be fixed and actions must be taken against who are involved in this malpractice

The Senate Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas, chaired by Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani, convened on Thursday at the OLD PIPS HALL, Parliament Lodges.

The meeting was attended by Senators Hamid Khan, Danesh Kumar, Falak Naz, and Aimal Wali Khan, along with the Chairman of the National Highway Authority (NHA), Additional Secretary from the Ministry of Communications, and senior officials from the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives.

The National Highway Authority (NHA) and the Ministry of Communications provided a comprehensive briefing on the recommendations made during the committee meeting held on 10-07-2024. Regarding the diversion of funds through re-appropriation for the expedited construction of the N-25 Highway, the NHA Chairman stated that the project is a priority and has been declared as such to the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Similarly, on the compliance status of the Khuzdar-Kuchlak Dualization Project, the Chairman of the Committee emphasized the need for reliable monitoring by the NHA, noting that it is impractical for senators to personally inspect all routes.

He questioned how sub-standard materials were approved for use on the newly constructed road at the Jeeva Check Post and recommended that accountability measures be implemented.

He stated, “how come is it possible that such a sub-standard road has been constructed under the supervision of NHA and consultant.” The Committee emphasized that their responsibility must be fixed and actions must be taken against who are involved in this malpractice and NHA must ensure that no such ill-practice occurs in the future.

In response, the NHA Chairman assured the committee that steps are being taken to identify and replace negligent personnel within the organization. It was reported that the Project Director had been warned and instructed to oversee rectification work, ensuring vigilance in the future.

Additionally, the Project Director has been directed to monitor the performance of the supervisory consultant staff and submit monthly performance reports for review. The NHA also briefed the committee on safety measures being implemented in the West Zone of Balochistan. The Chairman of the Committee commended the NHA Chairman for the initiatives undertaken.

In addition, regarding the relevant records of M/s Techno-CMC-ACC Consortium presented to the Committee, Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani questioned the progress of its rehabilitation efforts over the past year. He remarked that the issues have been recurring with no tangible solution provided thus far.

He further suggested adopting a model with a proven track record of success. The Committee unanimously recommended conducting an on-ground visit to the site to formulate a comprehensive solution.

Moreover, the CEO of the National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF) provided a comprehensive briefing on its operations, mandate as outlined in the memorandum of association, and core objectives.

The briefing emphasized optimizing the impact of investments to build a resilient and adaptive future for Pakistan. The thematic areas and regions prone to disasters were also thoroughly examined.

The Chairman of the Committee, along with other members, inquired about the mechanism for the selection and distribution of projects across provinces. It was reported that the loan itself establishes the criteria, serving as the basis for distribution. Once the technical groundwork is laid, projects are selected, and broader distribution is carried out. However, there is no fixed or predefined criterion for distribution.

The successes and achievements of the NDRMF were also reviewed during the meeting. The province-wise geographic distribution of funds from 2018 to date was reported as follows: Punjab, 8.2%; Sindh, 48.5%; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 10.9%; Balochistan, 11.2%; Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), 1.3%; Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), 1.2%; and the federal allocation, 18.7%.

While discussing the depletion of funds for disaster management, the committee members recommended that the federal government be requested to return the allocated funds to ensure the effective execution of disaster management initiatives.

The Chairman of the Committee inquired about the prospects of committed funds and suggested exploring donor agencies willing to contribute to progress and commitment. In his closing remarks, Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani, Chairman of the Committee, recommended that the NDRMF provide comprehensive details of project funding in the next meeting and conduct an assessment of COP 29 and the blue economy as potential gateways for securing grants.

Ends-Exact Press International-