The Ministry of Communications informed the National Assembly Standing Committee on Communications that a funding shortfall could delay 115 ongoing development projects.
The ministry reported that only Rs161 billion has been allocated to the National Highways Authority (NHA) for the current fiscal year, significantly short of the Rs650 billion required for these projects.
During the meeting, chaired by Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani, the Minister for Communications noted that NHA’s annual revenue has increased from Rs64 billion to Rs110 billion and recommended reinvesting these funds into road construction and maintenance.
The committee commended the ministry for its efforts to improve revenue collection but expressed concerns over the potential delays.
The ministry highlighted the M-6 Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway as its top priority due to its significance for national connectivity and socio-economic benefits.
It recommended developing the project through public-private partnerships (PPP) instead of relying solely on the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). The Sindh government was urged to acquire the remaining 1,500 acres of land required for the project, out of the total 7,500 acres, as the necessary funds had already been transferred to the province.
Committee members proposed extending the M-6 route from Karachi to Sukkur, citing inadequacies in the M-9 Karachi-Hyderabad section, which they argued does not meet international motorway standards.
The chairman instructed the ministry to submit pre-budget road schemes for NHA projects to the Standing Committee for review and include the M-6 in the next PSDP.
The Standing Committee advised the ministry to focus on fewer projects to avoid financial losses, cost overruns, and delays caused by non-payment to contractors. The committee also reviewed several key infrastructure projects, including the New Baran Bridge, Thatta-Kinjhar Road, N-70 and N-45 roads, and the dualization of the Quetta-Zhob road.
Other projects discussed included bypasses in Zhob and Shahdadkot, the connectivity of Lahore Ring Road to Karachi and Islamabad motorways, and various roads and bridges in Sindh, Balochistan, and Punjab.
Recognising the strategic importance of the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway, the committee pledged its support to ensure timely completion of ongoing projects and facilitation of future initiatives. The chairman assured the ministry of the committee’s commitment to resolving challenges and aligning infrastructure development with national priorities to deliver tangible benefits to the public.
