Resolution adopted on dualisation of highways

Balochistan Assembly for starting work on road projects

QUETTA:

Balochistan Assembly on Thursday demanded of the federal government to commence work on the dualization of Quetta-Karachi, Zhob, and Chaman highways.

The house adopted a unanimous resolution tabled by a member provincial assembly, Nasrullah Khan Zarai.

The chair put the resolution for voting, which was unanimously adopted by the house after the debate.

Speaking on the feasibility of the resolution, Zarai said the federal government has approved the dualization of highways and tenders have also been issued in this regard. However, work has not been started so far. “Quetta-Karachi Highway has claimed thousands of precious human lives,” Akhtar Hussain Langove, a member of the Balochistan National Party (BNP) lamented. Langove said that the narrow and poor conditions of roads in Balochistan had claimed precious human lives without inviting attention.

Members from opposition and treasury benches said road accidents were the norm on Quetta -Karachi Highway and other highways linking Balochistan with Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

“Federal government should immediately launch construction work on Quetta-Karachi road,” Nasrullah Zarai noted.

He said the national highway authority (NHA) should focus on Balochistan and expedite work on the dualization of the highways in the province.

The house put the resolution for voting and all treasury and opposition lawmakers unanimously adopted the resolution and urged the federal government to translate its words into action.

The house also demanded of the federal government to issue funds for the rehabiliation of flood affected people.

“Islamabad should listen to the problems of people in Balochistan,” Asad Baloch, the Balochistan Agriculture Minsiter demanded.

He said the rulers had only focused on the resources of Balochistan rather than addressing their grievances. Baloch added justice should be done with Balochistan and its people should be supported.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2022.