QWP leader demands probe into ‘ill-planned’ BRT project

PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) leader and former senior minister Sikandar Sherpao on Wednesday demanded an investigation into the ‘ill-planned’ Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project to ensure the people responsible for the mess were brought to account.

Speaking at a news conference, he observed that a huge amount of money was spent on the so-called mega project, but it was yet to complete as changes were still being made in it.

He was flanked by QWP leaders Dr Alam Yousafzai, Asad Afridi Advocate and Tariq Khan.

“This project is a joke with the people keeping in view the waste of time and money. It has inconvenienced the residents of Peshawar instead of facilitating them,” he remarked.

Sikandar Sherpao asked the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to hold an investigation to fix the responsibility. “It should be probed why the BRT project was launched in haste,” he questioned.

The QWP leader said it should also be probed why the contract for the project was awarded to a black-listed company. “The NAB should probe as to who has designed the project with so many flaws in it,” he added.

Sikandar Sherpao recalled that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government initiated the BRT project during the last days of its previous government. He said the controversial project was initiated without proper designing.

Sikandar Sherpao said the PTI leaders had announced that the project would be completed in six months, but the deadline was repeatedly changed and missed.

The QWP leader said the government would not be able to ensure the ‘soft opening’ of the project by March 23. Citing an example of the ill-planning, he said a major portion of the corridor was being dismantled to create space for the buses.

He said the cost of the BRT project had jacked up to Rs100 billion, but the planners were still making changes in its design.

The QWP leader said the residents of Peshawar were facing a host of problems and going through mental agony due to the project.

Sikandar Sherpao demanded the PTI leaders tender an apology to the people of Peshawar for ruining the provincial capital and failing to give any relief to them.

He said his party workers would take to the streets if a proper investigation was not initiated and those responsible for the mess not punished.