The government on Thursday told the Senate that revenue collected by the toll plazas increased after some of them were given to the private sector. As compared to last year Rs 7 billion, Minister for Communication Khurshid Shahd said Rs 8 billions revenue came, till April this fiscal, from 80 toll plazas operating in the country. This is expected to increase to Rs 9.5 billion next year.
He said the increase in revenue was mainly because 10 plazas were given to the private sector. The government intends to give more toll plazas to private sector for increase in revenue generation, he added.
Giving details, he said 10 of total 80 toll plazas were given to the private sector, and the government intends to give at least 25 percent more toll plazas to the private sector. He said that 70 toll plazas are being operated by the National Highway Authority (NHA) and Frontier Works Organisation (FWO).
Senator Raza Muhammad Raza complained that why people are being charged this tax on road, which were never carpeted. He referred to some portion of D I Khan-Zhob section of National Highway (N-50) whose some portion was never carpeted but a tax of Rs 16, 548, 640 was colleted by the toll plaza installed there.
The minister while responding to a question of Senator Gul Naseed said that PC-I for Malakand Tunnel was not prepared but feasibility study was being conducted and detailed design and construction would be undertaken after the availability of funds by the government.
Minister for Social Welfare said that Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal administers Food Support Programme in collaboration with Pakistan Post Office and Provincial Government paid Rs 2000 each to 1.25 million household with annual budget of Rs 2.5 (billion). Due to efficacy and effectiveness of the programme, government has increased its ceiling twice in financial year 2003-04 from Rs 2000 to Rs 2400 with annual budget of Rs 3 billion and in financial year 2005-06 from Rs 2400 to Rs 3000 with annual budget of Rs 4.38 billion.
At present, the annual budget of Food Support Programme is Rs 6 billion with coverage of 2 million households. Since inception of Food Support Programme, Rs 22.007 billion has been disbursed in 12 instalments. Food Support Steering Committees have been constituted at Federal, Provincial/Regional and District levels for implementation and monitoring of programme.
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