Road projects linking Gwadar: National Assembly panel voices concern over lack of funds

The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Ports and Shipping on Friday expressed serious concern over non-unavailability of funds for various road network projects connecting Gwadar Port. The Standing Committee constituted a sub-committee to resolve the matter immediately.
It also summoned the Chairman of National Highway Authority (NHA), Deputy Chairman Planning, high official of the Finance Ministry and other stakeholders in the next meeting on May 28, 2012 to seek commitments to resolve the matter immediately. The committee also directed the Finance Ministry to release funds immediately for completion of these projects.
The committee met with Rana Mahmood-ul-Hassan in the chair at Parliament House on Friday. Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani, Balochistan Chief Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh Mohammad, Syed Nasir Ali Shah, Nazir Ahmed Bughio, Nosheen Saeed, Mir Dost Muhammad Mazari and others participated in the meeting.
Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani told the committee while refuting a report of NHA about security the issue that Balochistan would provide full security to the contractors working on the projects. He said the NHA is portraying a wrong picture about security.
The member of NHA told the committee that NHA has no fund for these projects because the Finance Ministry did not release funds. He said the government of Sindh has given Rs 2.5 billion for the projects. "Federal government did not release any funds till January 2012.
Chief Secretary Balochistan Babar Yaqoob Fateh Mohammad said federal government has allocated Rs 29 billion in PSDP for the projects but only released Rs 19 billion so far. He said the Planning Commission has allocated Rs 24 billion in PSDP for Budget-2012-13 of which only Rs 5 billion would be spent on these projects.
He said the Deputy Chairman Planning Commission has committed with us that the project would be completed till June 2013. He said it is the responsibility of NHA to arrange funds. The member of NHA said the Finance Ministry has stopped funds from January.
Committee Chairman Rana Mahmood ul-Hassan said Gwadar Port is not only for Balochistan but the whole country. The chairman said, "If he could not resolve the matter, he would resign from the chairmanship of the committee. If we cannot serve people, we have no right to hold the position." The chairman constituted a sub-committee headed by Nazir Ahmed Bughio to look into the mater. Member of the committee Nasir Ali Shah of PPP from Balochistan said, "We should ask the US to construct our roads and start Nato supply through Gwadar port."