NHA asked to explain non-payment of compensation

ISLAMABAD:

President Dr Arif Alvi, upholding the orders of Wafaqi Mohtasib, has directed National Highway Authority (NHA) to explain why it had failed to compensate the affectees of land acquisition even after a delay of four years.

The president passed these orders in the case of Imam Baksh, Muhammad Saleh, Ali Ahmed, Ghulam Haider, Khuda Baksh and Zahoor Ahmed (the complainants), who alleged that NHA destroyed their homes and shops during the construction of N-85 and even after their repeated requests for compensation, the agency declined to meet its legal obligations, said a statement issued by the President House on Monday.

The president upheld the decision of the Wafaqi Mohtasib wherein NHA was directed to conduct an inquiry against the officials responsible for the inordinate delay. He directed the NHA to file a compliance report within 30 days of the receipt of the findings.

In his decision, the president said that unfortunately, the authority initiated the case for compensation after four years only when the affectees’ launched a complaint against NHA, which, he said, was tantamount to maladministration on the part of NHA.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2023.