ISLAMABAD: Officials from the communications ministry on Monday informed a Senate committee that a total of 33 projects particularly related to roads had been completed as of July 2024.

They informed the committee with details that 15 projects were funded by Asian Development Bank, five by World Bank, seven by China, one each by Saudi Fund for Development, Kuwait Fund and USAID and three by Japan.

According to the press release, total commitments for these projects were $9,996.2 million with disbursements of $9,355.19 million. However, 10 projects are ongoing with a commitment of $1,547.03 million, and of these four projects are each funded by Asian Development Bank and Korea and one project each by Saudi Fund for Development and World Bank.

The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs had been convened to discuss ongoing and completed projects of communications sector specifically related to national highways, motorways and road infrastructure under multilateral, bilateral and UN agencies along with the details of tendering process and interest paid by federal government on these projects.

Senator Saifullah Abro chaired the meeting whereas discussing the ongoing projects; the senator remarked that the contracts of several projects could not be awarded for three years since the signing of loan agreement. He said that such delays result in raise of costs, and stressed on transparency in these projects.

After detailed discussions, the committee recommended to the Economic Affairs Division and its concerned department (NHA) to provide details of these projects.

Senators Kamran Murtaza, Falak Naz, Kamil Ali Agha, Haji Hidayatullah Khan, Rana Mahmood ul Hassan, Special Secretary for Economic Affairs Division Humair Karim along with other senior officials of concerned Departments attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2025