The National Assembly Standing Committee on Communications expressed concerns over delays in critical road projects on Friday during its meeting to discuss key ongoing infrastructure projects.
The meeting was chaired by Shabbir Bijarani. It reviewed the Communications ministry's responses to its earlier recommendations, with a focus on several major infrastructure projects.
These projects included the Khairpur-Larkana Bridge, the Hyderabad-Karachi Road congestion, and the necessity for pedestrian bridges at Kathore and Maymar Morr.
The committee also examined progress on important bypasses such as Loralai and Zhob, as well as other roads, including the Nokundi-Maskheal Road, Chitral-Chakdara Road, and the Pindi Ghep to Khushalgarh Package 1.
Additionally, discussions were held on the Lowari Tunnel N-45 North Pole approach road, roads connecting Chitral to Shandur and Kalkat, and the M-1 Indus River Service Area.
The committee stressed the importance of completing these projects on time to prevent traffic congestion, enhance connectivity, and improve public safety.
The ministry was directed to submit its budgetary proposal for the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the upcoming financial year 2025-26 by January 31, 2025.
The committee urged the ministry to focus on a smaller number of high-priority schemes to reduce the risk of financial losses, cost overruns, and delays caused by non-payment to contractors.
The committee recommended that tenders for new schemes should not be initiated unless the necessary funds were secured.
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