Senate panel briefed on projects funded by partners

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Senator Saifullah Abro, on Monday discussed the national highways, motorways, and road infrastructure ongoing and completed projects through assistance by bilateral, multilateral, and UN agencies, along with the details of the tendering process.

Officials informed that a total of 33 projects were completed with the assistance of various development partners worth US$9,996.20 million ($9.996 billion). Of these, 15 projects were funded by the Asian Development Bank, five by the World Bank, seven by China, three by Japan, and one project each by Saudi Fund for Development, Kuwaiti Fund, and USAID.

However, 10 projects are ongoing with a commitment of $1,547.03 million ($1.547 billion) of which four projects are funded by the Asian Development Bank, four projects by Korea, and one project each by the World Bank and the Saudi Fund for Development.

Senator Saifullah Abro expressed serious reservations over the non-provision of required details for repeated times. The committee unanimously recommend Economic Affairs Division (EAD) and its concerned department National Highway Authority (NHA) to submit the details of the on-going projects as per agenda within two days to the committee.

Officials told the committee that progress on Shikarpur-Kandhkot and Kashmore-Rojhan project had been slowed due to deteriorating law and order in the area; however, NHA was trying to mitigate the issues for the timely completion of the projects. The committee reviewed the Khyber Pass Economic Corridor project, whose loan was approved by the World Bank in 2019 and has been delayed for the last four years.

The EAD also informed the committee that financial bids had been opened and bids received were double the amount of loan. “The World Bank will not extend the date of the loan. The project is at stake and NHA must have a solution to complete the project on time.” The NHA official also told the committee that by 15th May, 2025, NHA will be in a position and have more clarity about the bids received for the project. “The NHA must share a plan with EAD.” The committee unanimously recommended EAD to initiate an inquiry and sack the individuals responsible for the delay.

The committee decided to write to the investigative forum to initiate an inquiry and take appropriate action against the officials involved. The committee discussed the recommendations regarding the 765KV Dasu-Islamabad transmission line grid station at Islamabad West (Lot-IV), which is financed by the World Bank.

Earlier, it unanimously recommended EAD and its relevant department (Power Division) to recover Rs1.282 billion from the company. It inquired about the action taken by EAD in this regard.

The National Transmission & Despatch Company (NTDC) officials stated that a three-member committee was constituted by the BoD, NTDC, to inquire into the matter. “However, the inquiry has been completed and is awaiting NTDC board’s approval.”