NHA decides to revamp legal and maintenance departments

National Highway Authority (NHA) has decided to revamp legal and maintenance departments to prevent billions of rupees losses being incurred to national exchequer annually due to their poor performance, it is learnt. Official sources revealed to Business Recorder that Chairman NHA Jawwad Rafique Malik presided over an important meeting here at the NHA head office on Friday, wherein important decisions were taken to further improve the performance of the authority. The members and general managers of the NHA attended the meeting.
Sources revealed that it is feared that billions of losses have been incurred to the national exchequer on the name of routine and periodic maintenance, but nothing is visible on the ground.
The NHA chairman expressed dissatisfaction over maintenance work of roads. He directed to submit a comprehensive proposal for establishment of a separate Maintenance Wing to be headed by a member level officer to keep the roads in good condition.
Reviewing the SOP regarding maintenance of roads, he directed to handle the maintenance matters in a more proper way to save the roads from damage.
The authority has also decided to establish a core monitoring unit to properly monitor road projects and avoid delays in project implementations.
The NHA chairman also took notice of mishandling the affairs of Tulip Hotel and causing financial loss to the NHA. Rafique Malik expressed resentment over the poor performance of the NHA's legal bureau and directed to suggest immediate remedial measures to revamp this section.
He said that the director legal being head of the bureau will report directly to the NHA chairman and will be responsible for proper handling of legal affairs of the authority. The authority is facing capacity issues due to which cases are either not moving in the courts or are being stayed due to which the department is facing billions of rupees losses.
On grounds of bad performance, legal advisors, Aurangzeb Asad Advocate and Zaheer Ahmad Qadri, were discharged from their duties. In the meeting, NHA's Member West Zone Tufail Sheikh posted at Quetta office was made OSD. He is directed to report to Administration Wing, NHA Headquarters. In his place Shahid Ehsanullah is posted as member West Zone NHA Quetta who will be responsible for construction, maintenance and administrative affairs of the authority.
The NHA chairman said that acts relating to causing financial losses to the NHA will not be tolerated and disciplinary action will be taken against the defaulters. Besides, Director ROW NHA Ansar Anees has been given the additional charge of GM (ROW) NHA HQ. Likewise GM (Admn) Mukhtar Ahmed Durrani has been transferred and posted as GM (IMDC). Captain Mushtaq Ahmed (retd) has also been given the additional charge of GM (Admn) NHA HQ. In the meeting, the NHA chairman said that more transfers/postings will be made on important posts during the next few days.