NHA employees seek transfers from Balochistan over security concerns

National Highway Authority (NHA) employees posted in Balochistan are increasingly seeking transfers to Islamabad because of the province’s law and order situation, the Senate Functional Committee on Less Developed Areas, chaired by Senator Niaz Ahmed, was told. 

The committee was informed that even employees holding Balochistan domiciles were reluctant to continue serving in the province.

NHA officials said employees posted in Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan receive a risk allowance equal to 25% of their basic salary.

Committee members raised concerns after being informed that some employees with Balochistan domiciles were receiving the allowance despite not serving in the province.

Senator Jan Muhammad proposed barring all NHA employees from travelling by air, while Senator Kumar questioned why Balochistan-domiciled employees were unwilling to work in their home province.

During a briefing on the current fiscal year’s development programme, officials said 52% of the NHA’s development allocation had been earmarked for Balochistan and 22% for Sindh.

They said no new schemes had been introduced in Balochistan or Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa during the current financial year because priority was being given to projects nearing completion.

Senator Kumar asked whether the existing allocation would be sufficient to complete ongoing projects in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa during the year.

Planning Commission officials said the Public Sector Development Programme was prepared on a project basis rather than through fixed provincial allocations.

Senator Talha Mahmood observed that projects in developed regions were generally completed faster than those in less developed areas.

The committee was also informed that the NHA currently employed 2,750 people, exceeding its sanctioned strength, and was undergoing restructuring.

Members sought a detailed report on cost increases caused by delays in project implementation.

Chairman Senator Niaz Ahmed said political factors were also a major cause of delays and cost escalations in development projects.