ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Communications on Friday directed the government to provide details of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) otherwise the issue will be referred to the privilege committee.

The committee, chaired by Daud Khan Achakzai, directed the committee, formed on the orders of the prime minister to get the possession of land for Western Route, to hold its meeting.

Mr Achakzai said that Rs5 billion were allocated for the project but that amount was not used.

“It is unfortunate that the government is not ready to share the truth with the committee. In fact it has been hiding the facts. If facts would not be shared with the committee during next meeting, we will have no option but to send the issue to privilege committee,” he said.

During briefing, representative of National Highway Authority admitted that the land could not be purchased for the Western Route of CPEC.

Mr Achakzai said that it was strange that the land was not available but it is being claimed that the development work is going on.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2018