ISLAMABAD, Aug 8: The Senate Standing Committee on Communications on Monday expressed concern over lack of facilities at restaurants established in the service areas on the motorways.

The committee, which met here under the chairmanship of Senator Kamil Ali Agha, took notice of flouting of agreement terms by these restaurants by charging exorbitantly from the general public.

It directed the National Highway Authority (NHA) to produce copies of the agreement signed between the NHA and Daewoo Pakistan Motorways Services in 1997 with regard to maintenance of the service areas.

The meeting was convened to discuss award of contracts for rehabilitation and construction of roads and highways.

NHA Chairman Maj-Gen Furrukh Javed informed the committee that the contract for construction of D.I. Khan-Mughal Kot section of N-5 was awarded to the Frontier Works Organization for Rs1.3 billion in March 2000, and the completion date was fixed for March 2004.

However, the addition of two more bridges and increase in the carriage way width resulted in the extension of the project’s completion date and increased the cost to Rs2.3 billion.

He further informed the committee that delay was also caused by land acquisition problems in Fata, floods, rains and enhancement in the scope of work.

Regarding resurfacing and strengthening of Gujranwala- Kharian section of N-5, he said overall progress was slow, adding that a show cause notice had been issued to the contractor.

The committee was also briefed on the development work carried out on Kharian-Wazirabad section and steps taken to rehabilitate Rawalpindi-Mandra section of N-5.

It had a detailed discussion on the NHA’s decision to lease out plots/sites on national highways for setting up filling/CNG stations through out the country.

In reply to a question, the NHA chairman said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had decided to withdraw toll exemption on vehicles plying on national highways and motorways, except for those of the NHA, NH&MP and the armed forces.

He further informed the committee that the rates of toll tax had also been revised.