August 21, 2006	Monday	Rajab 25, 1427

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HYDERABAD, Aug 20: Federal Communications Minister Shamim Siddiqui has expressed concern over dilapidated conditions of some portions of the National and Super Highways built under a World Bank-funded national highways improvement programme.

He said that an inquiry committee, comprising members of treasury and opposition, would be formed to probe waste of money and pinpoint the officers responsible, including engineers, project director and consultant.

During his visit from the Karachi-Hyderabad super highway to N-5 beat of Motorway Police, Sakrand, the federal minister inspected various portions of the National Highway in Matiari and Jamshoro districts which were under construction and yet to be handed over to the department.

He was accompanied by DIG Motorways police Khursheed Alam and other officials.

At certain places, portions of Super and National Highways were found uneven and bumpy which are risky for vehicles and could damage tyres.

“I am concerned about pace as well as quality of work because we are questioned in parliament by our colleagues regarding below par work on highways.

Of course, I am going to form inquiry committee, consisting of parliamentarians of treasury benches and if opposition members showed their willingness they would also be part of the committee”, he said while speaking to a group of journalists.

He was determined to get matter investigated. He said that officials including the project director, engineers, contractors would have to face action.

He said that under $260 million World Bank-funded national highways improvement programme, portions of four separate projects of 48 to 49 kilometres each are to be rehabilitated but quality of work on these projects appeared to be below par.

He said that under WB programmes various projects were launched with different timing of completion and it was WB that selected which part of the highway was to be rehabilitated.

Referring to a 48-kilometre piece of road on Karachi-Hyderabad, he said that it was to be built at a cost of Rs580 million by October 2006 but its completion within the stipulated time was impossible.

He said that the projects had not yet been handed over to the National Highway and constructional defects are visible.

He said that his visit followed observations of parliamentarians in its on-going session, questioning quality of work and after inspecting various sites he found it hard to disagree with them and an inquiry had become essential because it people’s money which was spent in such projects.