ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a five-member committee to investigate alleged irregularities in the award of Karachi’s Lyari Expressway project.

A notification issued by the PM Office, available with Dawn, read that the prime minister has formed a committee to undertake a fact finding inquiry into the affairs of the National Highway Authority (NHA).

The committee includes former federal secretary Mian Mushtaq Ahmed as convener; Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission (PMIC) chief retired Brig Muzaffar Ali Ranjha, Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul, Cabinet Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal, and a representative of the Intelligence Bureau.

The terms of reference of the committee read that it should “examine the propriety and justification for the award of contract” for the renovation of the Lyari Expressway “without competitive bidding process and identify the officers in the decision making chain.” It is also tasked with reviewing “the pricing and award of contract for the electrical works” of the Lyari Expressway renovation project and identify the officers who processed or approved the procurement.

It will further “ascertain the merits, integrity and motivation for awarding the contracts, without open auction, for the collection of toll/revenue at the toll plazas and weigh stations at Pattoki and Lyari Expressway and also for toll plaza(s) located at Phool Nagar, Ghazi Ghat, Qutabpur, Rajanpur, DI Khan-1 and Kohat Tunnel”.

The officers associated with the decision-making process for the award of these contracts shall also be indicated, the TORs read.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2025