The western route under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), required for effective connectivity to Gwadar Port, cannot be completed before 2020, Chairman National Highway Authority (NHA) Shahid Ashraf Tarar categorically stated here on Monday. "The western route falling in the CPEC has been conceived under the short-term project and not as early harvest, which would be completed by 2020 and not by 2018," said Chairman NHA while briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Communication. The committee met with Daud Khan Achakzai in the chair.
The committee expressed serious concerns over the delay in project execution while saying that Rs 55 billion were required for the land acquisition, however only Rs 1.2 billion were earmarked in the budget. The committee directed for writing letters to Chief Secretaries Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan for imposing section 4 to stop construction on land falling under the western alignment. Chairman NHA said that after the completion of a technical study and feasibility report PC-1 of the D I Khan-Suhrab portion will have to be approved by Planning Commission.
NHA informed the Committee that overall work on D.I. Khan - Sohrab section is currently in the designing phase. Since designing phase requires considerable time in order to properly address all aspects of topography, subsequent work will be fast paced as soon as design phase is completed.
In response to a query about land acquisition for the project, the Committee was informed that land can be acquired only after design phase. Nonetheless, NHA has worked out preliminary funds requirement of approximately Rs 55 billion for land acquisition for western route from D I Khan and Sohrab. NHA said that design phase of Quetta-Khuzdar subsection will be completed in August 2016, followed by completion of design phases of other subsections.
The committee also discussed the non-payment to small contractors by FWO due to a tussle between NHA and FWO. Senator Lieutenant General Salahiddin Tirmizi (retd) informed the committee that some small contractors are not getting their payments. FWO officials said the revision of PC-I and non-payment of dues by NHA are the main issues. According to them, NHA owes Rs 1.43 billion to FWO.
Director General Pakistan Post informed the committee that service charges for Savings Schemes like Bahbood Savings Certificates and Pensioners' Benefit Account have been revised downward from 1.5 percent to 0.5 percent; this step is causing Pakistan Post a revenue loss of upto Rs 2 billion.
It was further informed that services like Savings Bank Ordinary Accounts, Special Savings Accounts, Defence Savings Certificates, Special Savings Certificates and Regular Income Certificates were available at Post Office counters, however fresh supply of last three certificates are suspended since 2007.
A presentation was given to the Secretary Finance on December 22, 2015. Secretary Finance was requested for supply of all certificates initially to 1400 medium and large scale outlets. The Secretary Finance Division consented to supply these certificates in 83 GPOs in the first phase. However, supply is awaited despite a request from PPOD. The committee directed finance division and communication ministry to hold a meeting on the issue and report to the committee.