National Assembly Standing Committee on Communications on Monday formed a sub-committee to finalise Pakistan Courier Regulatory Authority Bill 2015, moved by MNA Belum Hasanian, within a month.
This was decided in the communications committee meeting held in Islamabad under the chairmanship of MNA Muzammil Qureshi.
MNAs Sarzameen, Chaudhry Khalid Javaid Warraich, Dr Darshan, Ramesh Lal, Engr Hamid-ul-Haq Khalil, Nazir Bhogio,Molana Qamar ud Din, Sahibzada Tariq Ullah, Naseema Hafeez Panezai, Usman Khan Tarakai and Shahjehan Muneer Mangrio, attended the meeting.
The sub-committee will consider the proposals by the courier companies’ representatives before finalising its report.
Usman Tarakai would be the convener of the panel while its members include Nazir Bhogio, Ch Khalid Warraich and Salim-ur-Rehman besides the mover of the bill Belum Hasnain.
The committee had invited all the stakeholders, including leading courier companies to inform the committee regarding their concerns.
The courier’s representative Dr Tariq Hassan said that the regulation of the couriers was a welcome move, but their concerns should be addressed before a formation of the authority.
National Highway Authority chairman told the committee that Peshawar-Darra Adam khail section of Indus Highway (N-55) will be upgraded with Asian Development Bank funding and its work would begin by March.
He said that the feasibility and PC-I for the dualism of Kohat-Sarai Gambila section of the N-55 have also been prepared and submitted for the approval.
He said that the work on the 650 kilometres missing link from Gwadar to Quetta has been completed in record time and with the completion of this road 36 hours travel time between Quetta and Gwadar has been reduced to only eight hours.
The NHA chairman informed that some projects financed by ADB for the implementation of D.I Khan Mughal Kot Highway (N-50) have been recently completed. The several sharp curves have been attended through these projects and proper signage is also provided for the smooth flow of traffic.
On the issue of land acquisition issues of Shorkot-Garh Maharajah Bridge on river Chenab, he informed the committee that NHA has made complete payments to the concerned department but the delay was caused as the Land Acquisition Commissioner was transferred in April and so far the post is lying vacant.
