Minister of State for Communications Murad Saeed Wednesday directed for third party forensic audit of 34 delayed road projects escalating cost by around 40 percent, incurred billions of rupees losses to the national exchequer. Talking to the media here, Saeed told that he has directed for inquiry into the road projects launched during the five-year tenure of last Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government. He said that nation was kept in ignorance on the western route of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and even token money was not allocated for the project during previous budgets.
However, the minister vowed to continue the ongoing projects launched by the previous government with especial focus on the CPEC projects. The minister said projects were launched without any financial viability, planning, land acquisition and environmental assessment. The minister also directed for inquiry into the Kalam-Chakdara Road saying that the major contract was taken by PML-N leader Amir Muqam.
The minister said some donors like China had given commitment for financing different projects but these commitments were not pursued, adding the incumbent government would pursue them.
He claimed that legal procedures would be followed in the accountability process. He urged the officials to abide by the austerity campaign of Prime Minister Imran Khan and avoid any unnecessary expenditure as he himself would bear expenses of tea if any of his guests visits the ministry. "We are here to resolve issues by taking an action instead of making sweeping statements," Murad remarked.
In a bid to ensure transparency and accountability in the Ministry of Communications, Saeed vowed to launch e-tendering system across the country, replicating the one which had been introduced in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He further said the ministry would be introducing an e-billing system to enforce strict monitoring and check and balance on the system. He further said there are many loopholes in toll tax collection and directed for giving details, whom and how these tolls were awarded.
Murad also vowed to implement the prime minister's vision of eradicating corruption and strengthening public departments. He was briefed by National Highway Authority (NHA) chairman and other attached departments on the major ongoing, pending and future projects. He also directed the officials of ministry to launch a smart phone application (App) within a month to provide necessary information particularly the project's implementation, execution and progress in their desired regions. "This application is not new as it is already functional in most of the developed countries," he pointed out.
He resented the delay in various projects of the NHA hampering tourism and indigenous development in the areas concerned. Responding to the notice the minister had taken on Chakdara to Kalam 4-Lane Expressway, the officials informed that the project was delayed due to political interference and manoeuvring.
Saeed said the international Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system is important for any project which has never been followed in Pakistan's case. "There is no need to construct flyovers every time to resolve traffic issues rather road engineering must have been employed to make sustainable solutions. Now it is the high time to take crucial steps with team effort, improved coordination, dedication and proper direction to deliver the best to the masses," he said.