Lawmakers seek report on Rs 465 billion motorway delays

ISLAMABAD: (Web Desk) – At Parliament House, the Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Special Initiatives held its 14th meeting under the chairmanship of Syed Abdul Kadir Gillani. The session focused on key development concerns, particularly delays in the Rs. 465 billion Lahore–Bahawalnagar Motorway Project.

The issue was raised through a calling attention notice by Syed Naveed Qamar, highlighting concerns over the federal government’s takeover of the project. Members questioned whether the move aligns with national fiscal priorities and raised alarms about the diversion of funds from other critical development initiatives.

Officials from the relevant ministry briefed the committee on project timelines and financing plans. However, members expressed serious reservations about the feasibility of the Public-Private Partnership model, especially given the country’s economic challenges, including inflation and limited fiscal space.

The committee also reviewed the incomplete status of the N-5 National Highway. Authorities attributed the delays primarily to ongoing legal disputes, prompting the committee to demand a detailed report on the matter.

Special attention was given to development needs in Dera Ismail Khan, with members stressing that large infrastructure projects require federal support and cannot be handled by provincial governments alone. Proposals for urgent development initiatives in the region will be considered.

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Expressing dissatisfaction over the briefing, the committee decided to form sub-committees to further investigate the motorway project and delays in projects handled by Pakistan Infrastructure Development Company Limited. It was also decided to conduct verification visits to infrastructure projects in Balochistan under IFRAP.

During discussions, Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro raised concerns about gaps between reported progress in education and health sectors and findings from global assessments, including those by UNICEF. Questions were raised about the effective use of development funds, particularly in Punjab.

The ministry clarified that education and health fall under provincial jurisdiction after constitutional devolution. It also noted that development budgets have effectively shrunk due to inflation, despite increased allocations under provincial Public Sector Development Programmes.

While the committee expressed no objections to the upcoming PSDP budget proposals, it deferred discussion on key legislative items, including amendments related to public-private partnerships and general statistics, to a future meeting.

The meeting was attended by several lawmakers, including Syed Sami Ul Hassan Gillani, Naz Baloch, Akhtar Bibi, and Tahir Iqbal, along with other members and officials from relevant ministries.