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CPEC: Rs20b for western, Rs110b for eastern route, NHA admits

Authority’s statement fuels debate over govt’s tilt towards eastern alignment

Peer Muhammad October 20, 2015

Authority’s statement fuels debate over govt’s tilt towards eastern alignment. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: The National Highway Authority (NHA) on Monday admitted that the government has allocated Rs20 billion to the western route of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), while earmarking a handsome Rs110 billion to the eastern alignment.

The NHA stated this during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Communication, adding fuel to debates that the government has more than just favoured the eastern alignment.

Parliamentarians from Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have criticised the government for having a tilt towards the eastern route of the $46-billion CPEC, voicing their rage from time to time over leaving behind the smaller provinces.

“This is what we were saying,” said Senator Daud Khan Achakzai, chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Communication. “This is a sheer violation of the commitment made by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with the political parties at the All Parties Conference on May 28 this year to construct the western alignment of the CPEC in the first phase.”

Achakzai further said that roads being built in Balochistan are mostly funded by the Asian Development Bank and USAID instead of funds earmarked under the CPEC. “Contrary to the statements by government ministers, it has been made clear that the authorities are least interested in constructing the western route.”

The committee said that it wants the government to follow a neutral and indiscriminate policy, paving way for development in every part of the country.

“The CPEC project can be the ideal opportunity for under-developed provinces to come out of poverty.”

Senator Kamil Ali Agha said that due to manifold increase in the toll tax on the motorways, the people have abandoned travelling on them.

Meanwhile, the committee was told that revenue from toll tax has increased from Rs13 billion to Rs22 billion during the last five years. It was informed that a collection of Rs4.40 billion was made from Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway and Rs9.60 billion were collected from the Islamabad-Lahore Motorway.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 20^th, 2015.

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