Senate panel irked by delay in provision of funds

Meeting was informed that previous govts mismanaged by building small dams places where there was no water

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Reforms has summoned the Finance Division officials in the next meeting over delay in provision of funds for the construction of 100 small dams in Balochistan.

The Senate panel’s meeting, with Senator Dr Asad Ashraf in the chair, was held at the Parliament House on Thursday.

The meeting was informed that the previous governments mismanaged this project by building small dams in such places where there was no water.



The committee also expressed resentment over the non-participation of the minister for planning in the meeting.

Senator Talha Mehmood said, “Billions of rupees has been spent on 15km Kuchlak-Quetta Northern Bypass project with approximately Rs180 million being spent on one kilometre.”

Senator Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar said, “Substandard material is being used in the construction work on the road from Muslim Bagh to Qilla Saifullah.”

The committee ordered presenting all details of the project in the next meeting.

Senator Mehmood said, “Islamabad Safe City project was given $124 million, but it turned out to be only of $25 million. Bidding was not held and the contract was awarded to one party.”

Senator Usman Khan Kakar said, “There is a road past Garang mountain in Balochistan where the NHA filled all of its soil in a small dam, which will create problems as the province is already facing water shortage.”

The senators lamented that not a single project was completed within the stipulated timeframe.

“Mind-blowing increases in the cost were made by changing PC1s of the projects. The cost of N-70 project of Qilla Saifullah-Loralai was Rs6,849 million. Its consultancy fee was $2.4 million, but was increased to $5.2 million and paid. This project is expected to complete by February 2019,” observed the committee members.

Expressing severe resentment over the non-participation of the communication secretary and NHA chairman, the committee postponed the briefing on the NHA projects and issued directions to ensure participation in the next meeting or the issue would be sent to the privileges committee.

Senator Kabir Ahmed Muhammad Shahi said, “The plan for construction of 10 grid stations in Balochsistan is on paper right now. Neither funds are being released nor has any practical progress been seen.”

Ministry of Planning additional secretary said, “At the time when allocations were being made in the PSDP, it was recommended that rather than initiating new projects, priority should be given to completing ongoing ones.”