Construction on Mohmand-Bajaur expressway halted due to lack of funds

PA Mohmand Agency writes to Fata secretariat, asks for disbursement of remaining funds

SHABQADAR: The unfinished work on the main Mohmand-Bajaur expressway, owing to payment issues, has halted lives of travelers in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

Inaugurated by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the Ghallanai Mohammad Ghat Road is a preferred route from Bajaur, Upper Dir and Chitral to Peshawar instead of the Malakand tunnel. Keeping in view that it caters to thousands in the tribal areas, the Political Administration of Mohmand Agency had requested SAFRON ministry to remaining funds to the Frontier Works Organisation  (FWO) for the completion of the expressway.

The Mohmand-Bajaur Agency Expressway. PHOTO: EXPRESS

On Wednesday, the political agent of Mohmand Agency wrote a letter to the Fata secretariat urging it to disburse Rs600 million that were allocated for the remaining 30 per cent work to complete the road.  “Widening and improving the rest of 31km alignment up to Mohammad Ghat has also been dedicatedly executed by the FWO,” reads the letter addressed to additional secretary Fata. It adds that despite completion of 70 per cent of the work, the construction has hit a snag due to payment issues.

The Mohmand-Bajaur Agency Expressway. PHOTO: EXPRESS

“Due to halting the road works and installation of three main bridges, the agency was disconnected for almost 8 hours north of Lakkaro Tehsil headquarter; when torrential rains on May 12 caused a flood like situation. Almost 300 vehicles were stuck up from 3pm to 11pm between two sites of uninstalled bridges at Shwa Parsh Masaod area of Safi Tehsil and at another point on the Ghazi Beg Bridge works. Owing to the halt of works these days at all the points’ traffic has to cross through a dried up Nullah bed under dry weather in normal conditions.”

The Mohmand-Bajaur Agency Expressway. PHOTO: EXPRESS

According to the PA, the total cost of the project stands at Rs3.7 billion, Rs600 millions of which is an allocation of the current fiscal year.

“Given the fact that almost major part of the physical works has been executed by FWO, it is requested to secure additional funding so that this project is completed on a priority basis,” the letter states.

The Mohmand-Bajaur Agency Expressway. PHOTO: EXPRESS

In its recommendations to the secretariat, the PA has asked for the disbursement of the allocation amount, made a request for additional funding by the federal government to complete the project. “If additional funding cannot be secured then funding may be re-appropriated from the balance FATA ADP block allocation funds toward this PSDP reflected under the Ministry of SAFRON division in the PSDP,” the political agent suggested.