Communications Committee Convenes

The sixth meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Communications took place at 11:00 am in Committee Room 07 of the Parliament House, Islamabad, under the chairmanship of Mir Shabbir Ali Bijarani, MNA.

During the session, the minutes from the previous two meetings were approved.

The Committee reviewed the Ministry’s responses to earlier recommendations, focusing on key infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing national connectivity and road safety. Discussions covered the Khairpur-Larkana Bridge, congestion on the Hyderabad-Karachi Road, and the need for pedestrian bridges at Kathore and Maymar Mor. The progress of critical bypasses like Loralai and Zhob, roads such as Nokundi-Maskheal Road, Chitral-Chakdara Road, and the Pindi Gap to Khushalgarh Package 1 were also examined. Additional topics included the Lawari Tunnel N-45 North Pole approach road, roads connecting Chatral to Shandrul and Kalkat, and the M-1 Indus River Service Area. The Committee stressed the timely completion of these projects to boost connectivity, ease traffic, and improve public safety.

Per the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007, the Ministry was requested to submit its budgetary proposal for the PSDP for the financial year 2025-26 to the Committee by January 31, 2025, for review and possible amendments.

The Committee recommended that the Ministry prioritize a limited number of schemes to mitigate risks of financial losses, cost overruns, and delays, especially those caused by non-payment to contractors. They also suggested the Ministry present a proposal for ongoing schemes, ranked by priority, in the next meeting. The Committee highlighted the need to streamline the process and proposed legislation to shorten project durations, as handling too many projects simultaneously impedes timely completion.

Furthermore, the Ministry was strongly advised against initiating tenders for new schemes without securing necessary funds. This precaution is to prevent financial setbacks or delays due to a lack of resources, ensuring only feasible and fully funded projects are undertaken.

Additionally, the Committee emphasized strict enforcement of regulations against overloaded vehicles on motorways, suggesting blacklisting repeat offenders to prevent further infrastructure damage. To support this, the Ministry was advised to draft bylaws for the Committee to present to Parliament. They also recommended coordinating with district police for better enforcement, given the Motorway Police’s 52 percent shortage in human resources. This collaborative effort aims to enhance regulation enforcement, road safety, and motorway infrastructure integrity.

The Member of the National Highway Authority (NHA) from Balochistan was directed to present a detailed report on all ongoing and proposed schemes in the province at the next meeting. This report should include reasons for delays or pending projects, and plans to incorporate these schemes into the upcoming financial year’s PSDP. The Committee emphasized the importance of addressing these issues to ensure timely completion of critical infrastructure projects in Balochistan and their inclusion in the next fiscal cycle.

The meeting was attended by Honorable Members of the Standing Committee, including Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan Nasar, MNA, Haji Jamal Shah Kakar, MNA, Ms. Akhtar Bibi, MNA, Dr. Darshan, MNA, Syed Ayaz Ali Shah Sheerazi, MNA, Mr. Nazir Ahmed Bhugio, MNA, Syed Mustafa Kamal, MNA, Mr. Mehboob Shah, MNA, Mr. Abdul Latif, MNA, and Mr. Hameed Hussain, MNA.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Communications and its affiliated departments were also in attendance.

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