Ministry of Communications has showed its helplessness to get vacated the toll plazas from Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) and National Logistic Cell (NLC) which have no authorisation to collect toll at motorways. Secretary Communications, Anwer Ahmed Khan made this astonishing revelation before the special committee of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday.
He said that National Highway Authority (NHA) has to make outstanding payment of Rs 9 billion to FWO against various construction projects. Refusal to payment for their works, the FWO has occupied toll plazas forcefully and making recoveries through toll money, secretary explained.
"We requested the federal government for allocation of Rs 95 billion but received a minor amount of Rs 18.5 billion. Subsequently, no money for payment to FWO is available with the ministry", secretary said. Similarly, NHA has huge liabilities against NLC. In return NLC held some of the toll plazas on M-2 and two of the vehicles of NHA. Director General Federal Audit pointed out huge irregularities and mismanagement of funds by NHA, which was highlighted in the Annual Audit Report 2008-09, sent to President Asif Ali Zardari. On the recommendations of member committee, Hamid Yar Hiraj, committee agreed to hold a tripartite meeting among NHA, NLC and FWO for an amicable solution of the matter.
Earlier, Hamid Yar Hiraj said a private party won the contract of toll plaza at Khaniwal through open bidding, but FWO refused to give the party charge of toll plaza. The profit of Khaniwal is in millions. Acting Chairman NHA, Mohammad Junaid said that authority is revisiting on the data of toll plazas and introducing e tolling in all of them shortly.
Secretary Communications said inadequacy of the funds showed the efficiency of NHA. "Authority needs Rs 5.2 billion in urgency to payment for on-going development projects and government is only source of funding", he said.
Reviewing the audit accounts of ministry of communication for year 1997-98, audit pushed the National Transport Research Centre (NTRC) to recover 1/3 out of Rs 2.2 million given to 22 consultants. DG Federal Audit accused the ministry of its failure to recover the amounts from the consultants as per government rules.