Ahsan orders removal of bottlenecks, timely completion of NHA projects

ISLAMABAD, Oct 30 (APP): Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Friday directed the National Highway Authority (NHA) to remove bottlenecks, accelerate work on key national highways and motorways and ensure strict financial discipline.

He also warned that unjustified cost escalations, non-transparent claims and delays in development projects would not be tolerated.

Chairing a review meeting on NHA projects being executed under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), the minister said that public funds must be utilized transparently and efficiently, with accountability at every stage of project implementation, a news release said.

He directed the authorities to thoroughly scrutinize cost escalations, variations in construction quantities and rates, and additional claims submitted by contractors to prevent unnecessary financial burdens on the national exchequer.

Ahsan Iqbal stressed that project monitoring should focus on actual physical progress, expenditure and completion targets rather than paperwork alone.

He directed the concerned authorities to prepare a comprehensive report on the status, financial requirements and implementation bottlenecks of key projects for submission to the Prime Minister to facilitate timely decisions.

Reviewing major projects, the minister was informed that the 216-kilometre Shandur-Gilgit Road project, costing Rs49,946.070 million, had achieved 67.33 per cent physical progress, while the 153-kilometre Chitral-Booni Mastuj-Shandur Road project, costing Rs17,783.193 million, had achieved 40 per cent progress.

He called for expediting work on these strategically important routes to improve connectivity and promote economic activity in remote areas.

The 273-kilometre dualization and rehabilitation of Karachi-Quetta-Chaman Road (N-25), costing Rs183,421.427 million, had achieved 19.25 per cent physical progress.

 The minister stressed accelerating work on the Karachi-Kararo and Wadh-Khuzdar sections to strengthen regional connectivity and trade.

Regarding the Indus Highway (N-55), the 221.9-kilometre Shikarpur-Rajanpur Additional Carriageway Project, costing Rs44,703.890 million, had achieved 62 per cent progress.

The 121.5-kilometre Rajanpur-Dera Ghazi Khan section, costing Rs63,150.570 million, was awaiting letters of award due to land acquisition and resettlement issues, while the 208.19-kilometre Dera Ghazi Khan-Dera Ismail Khan section, costing Rs111,940.070 million, had been awarded, with contractors currently under mobilization.

The minister directed the authorities to resolve outstanding issues and expedite implementation of these projects.

He was also briefed that the 306-kilometre Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway (M-6), with a PC-I cost of Rs363,700 million, and electrical and mechanical works of the Lowari Tunnel, costing Rs33,250 million, were at the procurement stage.

Ahsan Iqbal directed the concerned authorities to remove procedural bottlenecks and accelerate procurement to ensure progress on these critical projects.

Reviewing the 210-kilometre dualization and improvement of the existing N-50 from Yarik through Sagu to Zhob, including the Zhob Bypass, costing Rs76,486.231 million, he was informed that the project had achieved 10 per cent physical progress. He called for addressing financial and administrative constraints to accelerate its implementation.

Highlighting the strategic importance of M-6, N-55, N-25 and the Quetta-Zhob road network, the minister said their timely completion was essential for economic growth, investment, trade and regional connectivity.

He directed that exceptional cost escalations and contractors’ financial claims undergo comprehensive technical, contractual and financial scrutiny. He also stressed that engineers, project directors and consultants must fulfil their responsibilities, while monitoring and accountability mechanisms should be strengthened.

The minister called for independent third-party validation of project costs, construction quality, quantities and additional financial claims, emphasizing that the process must remain impartial and free from conflicts of interest.

He further directed the identification of projects that could be completed through limited additional allocations and sought clear action plans, defined responsibilities and firm timelines for schemes facing financial or administrative constraints.

The concerned authorities were also directed to submit actionable proposals within 15 days to resolve outstanding issues and financial claims relating to the bypass project.

The minister said national highway projects were not merely infrastructure schemes but a cornerstone of Pakistan’s economic development, investment climate, industrial growth and regional trade.

Their timely completion, he added, would reduce transportation costs, improve access to markets and strengthen economic linkages among different regions of the country.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to transparent and accountable development, Ahsan Iqbal said effective monitoring, financial discipline and prudent utilization of public resources would remain central to ensuring that development projects delivered benefits to citizens on time.