The provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Friday agreed to form a parliamentary committee to look into the concerns of opposition regarding design, feasibility, contractor and cost of multi-billion Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.
The assurance was given on the floor of provincial assembly by the provincial Minister for Local Governments and Rural Development (LG&RD) Shahram Khan Tarakai while responding to a question of Sobia Shahid of PML-N during the question-hour, of the house. The government is ready to constitute a parliamentary committee to address the concerns of opposition regarding the project, he said.
Making a supplementary question, the woman legislator Sobia Shahid asked why the contract of the mega project was awarded to a contractor who was blacklisted in Punjab. She contended that project details provided to her were incomplete, inadequate and devoid of facts and figures.
Tarakai said BRT was one of the flagship projects in the history of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding the cost of project was Rs66 billion and would be paid in Pakistani currency.
He said keeping in view the technicalities and future plans, experts made changes in the designs of BRT project. He said feeding corridors and routes have been added to the project.
He informed that under the project 40 years old drainage pipe was also rehabilitated while work on gas, electricity and telephone lines along the main artery of the provincial metropolis is underway.
The provincial minister agreed to the proposal to form the parliamentary committee to address the concerns of opposition members and said that government was ready to share the details of BRT project.
Opposition leader Akram Khan Durrani criticized that the project made and remade several times during the construction period. He also objected on the changes in proposed design of the project and demanded probe.
ANP parliamentary leader Sardar Hussain Babak on a supplementary question said information provided by concerned department about the project were incorrect adding it was tantamount to breaching the privilege of the House. He said assembly was being deceived by the department over the matter.
Inayat Ullah Khan of MMA said it was an important matter and a detailed briefing and debate should be arranged for the parliamentarians on the subject matter.
Earlier, the House witnessed a commotion when Khusdil Khan of ANP criticized treasury benches for delaying the assembly business. He said assembly should be run properly abiding by rules and code of procedure.
Deputy speaker Mahmood Jan who was chairing the proceedings explained that delay was due to Friday prayers and said steps would be taken to start the proceedings on time in future.
Meanwhile, the Law Minister Sultan Khan also assured commencement of the proceedings on time future. He however said it was responsibility of the members to be punctual.