The Senate Standing Committee on Planning has directed authorities to commence construction of the Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway within the current fiscal year, emphasizing that major road infrastructure projects fall under the federal government’s responsibility.
During a meeting chaired by Senator Quratul Ain Marri, the committee expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of preparedness in the Planning Ministry regarding the flagship “Uraan Pakistan” programme. Ministry officials failed to provide clear responses to questions from committee members about the initiative’s execution.
Officials briefed the committee on the programme, stating that Pakistan’s exports were expected to reach $40 billion by the end of the fiscal year, with a target of increasing them to $60 billion within the next five years. However, committee members, including Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, raised concerns over the absence of a detailed implementation plan. Khanzada criticized the ministry for not having sufficient information and noted that key officials, including the planning minister, were not present to address inquiries.
Senator Shahadat Awan highlighted concerns about water scarcity and questioned the ministry about plans to mitigate the crisis. He also sought clarification on whether provinces had been consulted regarding the construction of six new canals from the Indus River. Ministry representatives could not provide satisfactory responses.
The committee chairperson expressed frustration over the planning minister’s absence, noting that the meeting had already been delayed until February 19 at his request, yet he failed to attend. The committee reiterated the need for better coordination and transparency in major government initiatives and called for an immediate roadmap to address planning gaps in national infrastructure projects.
