ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Communications has expressed dissatisfaction over the government’s attitude regarding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

The committee’s chairman Muhammad Daud Khan Achakzai of the Awami National Party said on Friday that it was strange that trade convoys had started passing without the completion of the western route of the corridor.

“Whenever we ask about the progress on the western route, we hear the excuse that the funds and workforce are not available,” he said.

The chief secretary of Balochistan confessed before the members that a committee formed on the orders of the prime minister to acquire land in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had not held any meeting, hence no area had been acquired.

Mr Achakzai said it meant that the route existed only on papers and the facts were entirely different as compared to what was being portrayed.

“People should be recruited while considering the length of the National Highway instead of according to quota of the provinces. Otherwise a sense of deprivation will prevail among the people of smaller provinces.

“The parliamentary committee has suggested to the ministry of finance many times to release funds and complete the process of appointments in the Motorway Police. Even a report has been tabled in the Senate but there is no progress over it,” he said.

The committee suggested that the salaries of Motorway Police be increased by 20 per cent.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2017