President urged to clear impasse on Jaglot-Skardu Road project
A senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader from Skardu has appealed to President Asif Ali Zardari to resume work on the Jaglot-Skardu Road, the only land route between Gilgit and Kargil. The PPP leader, Imran Nadeem Shigri, alleges a few members of the ministry of communications are deliberately stalling the project due to their “vested interests and prejudices”.
According to official sources, the Jaglot-Skardu Road project was recently cancelled by the ministry of communications on grounds that the contracting company, China Gezhouba Group Company Limited (CGGC), does not fulfil the criteria for the project.
Shigri said a memorandum of understanding for the project was signed between the National Highways Authority (NHA) and CGGC on July 2010 during President Zardari’s visit to China. He said to ensure transparency, the NHA invited an Expression of Interest for the construction and funding of the project, under which prospective contractors were to arrange 85 per cent of the funds for the project. He said CGGC was the only company that made an offer for the project and offered to fund 94 per cent of the project cost through a soft loan.
Shigri said that after due consideration a contract was signed with CGGC for the project and the contract was referred to the Ministry of Communications to obtain approval from the Planning Division. He said a reference was also made to the Economic Affairs Division to apply for required funding for the project from the Exim Bank of China.
“However, after spending two years paying visits to the site and holding negotiations with CGGC to settle the final cost of the project, the ministry of communications is now inviting new EOIs for the Jaglot-Skardu Road project,” said Shigri. The PPP leader said that following the Giary tragedy, armed forces faced great difficulties in transporting heavy machinery and equipment due to the dilapidated condition of the road. The project is part of a development package announced by the government.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 7th, 2012.
COMMENTS (5)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Each year hundreds of lives are lost while commuting on Jaglot-Skardu road as the road is in a pathetic condition rather the most dangerous road in Pakistan.
Such an unserious attitude resulting from vested interests of some greedy and malicious individuals which is causing the delay in the project, is not acceptable and should be checked by the responsible.”
Each year hundreds of lives are lost while commuting on Jaglot-Skardu road as the road is in a pathetic condition rather the most dangerous road in Pakistan.
Such an unserious attitude resulting from vested interests of some greedy and malicious individuals which is causing the delay in the project, is not acceptable and should be checked by the responsible.
"vested interests and prejudices” ???? Supremacy of law ???
Delay in project, besides causing loss to the exchequer is also tarnishing Pakistan’s Image in the International Community.
This is will also leave a very negative impact on our relationship with China.
Local contractors cannot execute such a big project. If the work is further delayed on the project, this will also develop a sense of deprivation and isolation among already annoyed people of Gilgit-Baltistan.
-> Any further delay in the project would result in cost escalation. -> The underprivileged population of that particular region has already suffered a lot due to red tape. -> CGGC has offered to finance 94% of the project on soft loan. No local contrtactor has the muscle to undertake a project of this magnitude on the most difficult terrain. -> Above all the project is a symbol of an evergreen PAK-China friendship.