Senate's sub-committee of the standing committee on communications on Saturday directed ministry of finance and Planning Commission to release sufficient funds for the ongoing National Highway Authority (NHA) projects in Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa as many road projects are facing delay due to scarcity of funds.
The sub-committee, which met under the chairmanship of Senator Zahid Khan, issued show-cause notices to principle secretaries of President and Prime Minister on their failure to attend the meeting. However, the sub-committee which had also decided to issue show-cause notice to Secretary Planning Commission, Sohail Ahmed, decided not to do so on the recommendation of Senator Ismail Buledi.
Speaking on the occasion, Senator Zahid Khan said that during past few months, 3.7 billion were allocated for the ongoing road projects under Multan Package but meagre funds were released for Lowari Tunnel, Peshawar Northern By-pass and Hassanabdal-Mansehra Highway projects. He further said that in his area, Timargarra-Chakdara road was in a dilapidated condition and people of the area are very unhappy over the apathy of NHA in this regard.
Minister for Communications, Arbab Alamgir asked the committee to give some time so that he could visit finance ministry for allocation of rupees two billion amount for NHA projects in KP. Also, officials of finance and planning division promised to release sufficient funds for the road projects next week.
On these assurances, the convenor postponed the meeting till Friday next with the direction that funds should be released positively for KP projects. The meeting was also attended by Secretary Planning Commission Sohail Ahmed, Acting Chairman NHA, Muhammad Junaid and senior officials of ministry of communications, and finance and Planning Commission.