Work on Gwadar Linkage roads: NA committee stresses funds arrangement

[Salman]

Work on Gwadar Linkage roads: NA committee stresses funds arrangement


ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Ports and Shipping on Wednesday reiterated its request to the prime minister and federal government to arrange funds for completion of Gwadar Linkage roads.

Completion of linkage roads will enhance economic activities and bring prosperity in Balochistan, chairman of the committee Rana Mahmoodul Hassan maintained while chairing the meeting. He said the public representatives of Balochistan were not satisfied with the behaviour of the federal government and its developmental spending in Balochistan. The committee was of the view that the government has to take Balochistan issue seriously otherwise it will have horrible consequences in the country. This committee has been discussing the issue of Gwadar Linkage roads for the last over four years but the result is zero, Hassan added. The chairman also suggested to protest outside the parliament against the federal government, Ministry of Finance and Planning Commission for not releasing funds for construction of Gwadar Linkage roads.

Balochistan additional chief secretary informed the committee that the Ministry of Finance and Planning Commission never released funds allocated in the annual budget for the last several years, which badly affected developmental works across the province. He admitted that there are law and order problems in some parts of Balochistan but it will not be held responsible for delay in execution of developmental programmes. He claimed that several developmental works are in progress in disturb areas of Balochistan but the work on Gwadar Linkage roads were stopped due to not releasing of funds by the Ministry of Finance.

National Highway Authority (NHA) Chairman Ali Gardezi informed the committee that for the last two years there is 50 percent cut in NHA budget, which badly affected all the projects including Gwadar Linkage roads. Out of a total of Rs 8.092 billion for Balochistan projects, the federal government has released only Rs 3.119 billion and then the cut was imposed.

The committee recommended to release complete funds required for completion of Gwadar Linkage roads. The committee also recommended that public representatives should also be involved in spending of development budget just for ensuring proper check and balance over the contractors. The committee was also informed that for the fiscal year 2012-13, the releases of funds will be based on project base instead of giving one line budget.

MNA Syed Nasir Ali Shah told the committee that in Gwadar Port, we are at the same stage as in 2008. He claimed that the federal government will never construct roads in Balochistan.

Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Nadeemul Haq informed the committee that the government is confronting severe financial constraints. However, he assured the committee that the Planning Commission will ensure to release funds for completion of Gwadar Linkage roads construction in early fiscal year 2012-13. The government has giving top priority to the development projects of Balochistan but during the last two years, massive floods and other matters compelled the government to cut funding for NHA.

The committee also informed that more concession was granted to the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) as it received 91 percent profit and only 9.0 percent profit of Pakistan. But the committee was informed that the PSA is likely to give up Gwadar Port and it may be handed over to provincial government of Balochistan.