KARACHI: Sindh Works and Services Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah on Tuesday told the provincial assembly that projects of motorways in Sindh were being delayed due to “lethargic attitude” of the federal government.

Furnishing a statement and replies to lawmakers’ queries during Question Hour in the assembly, he said that the provinces were not allowed to construct motorways as their construction lay with the National Highways Authority.

To a question asked by Grand Democratic Alliance’s Arif Mustafa Jatoi, the minister said that the provincial works and services department was not the custodian of any motorway in the province. “Motorways in Sindh pertained to National Highways Authority, which comes under the jurisdiction of federal government,” he added.

To a supplementary question asked by treasury member Heer Soho, he said that the federal government’s motorway projects in Sindh were not completed on time as their progress was very slow. “This is injustice that the province is not getting its due share,” he lamented.

Minister says a master plan for roads in the province prepared with ADB assistance

The minister said that important projects of road infrastructure under the domain of the federal government were being severely neglected causing a surge in road traffic accidents.

Karachi-Hyderabad motorway ‘not up to standards’

He also informed the house that the 160-km-long Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway was not up to standards.

To a supplementary question asked by treasury member Malik Asad Sikander, the minister said that a section of the National Highway at Kotri was in very poor condition. “The chief minister has taken up this issue with the Centre several times, but to no avail,” he said.

The minister asked Leader of the Opposition Firdous Shamim Naqvi of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and other party members to support the province’s stance and play their role to get this matter resolved.

He said that the PPP-led federal government had made proposals for the construction of motorways, but the process was halted as some people approached court.

He said that the PPP had proposed the initiation of a motorway project in Karachi, being a coastal city. However, he said, it was launched in Punjab.

The minister further informed the lawmakers that the provincial government had chalked out a master plan for the roads in the province with the help of the Asian Development Bank.

In reply to another question, Mr Shah said that the provincial government preferred asphalt roads over concrete roads, saying that the former was more expensive than the latter. “Concrete roads take long time in construction while asphalt road construction can be completed more quickly. Asphalt pavements are the smoothest pavement and produce 50 per cent less noise than concrete road. Asphalt paving road provides better safety of vehicles against skidding,” he added.

The minister further added that no appointments were made between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018 on a contract or regular basis in the works and services department.

However, he said that 137 persons were appointed on deceased and disabled quota and on recommendations of the Sindh Public Service Commission.

“Thirty-six assistant engineers (BS-17) were appointed on the recommendations of the Sindh Public Service Commission, five sub-engineers (BPS-11) were recruited against disabled quota and 96 were appointed on various posts against deceased quota,” he said.

The minister further said from 2013 to 2018 six bridges were constructed whereas work on two more was in progress with a total expenditure of Rs225.637 million during 2013 to 2018.

GDA lawmaker Nusrat Sehar Abbasi said it seemed that substandard material was used in the construction of the bridges as they were in a dilapidated condition.

The minister stated that a complaint was received against one of the bridges. “The inquiry into the matter is under way and we will take strict action against [those] responsible,” he added.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2019