KARACHI, Jan 6: Federal Minister for Communications Shamim Siddiqui said on Saturday that 46 highways were under construction in the country at a cost of Rs400 billion.

He was talking to newsmen after inaugurating a seminar on `Project Management’ at a local hotel. He, however, noted that half of the on-going mega development projects had been delayed due to the absence of project management experts.

He underlined the need for project management experts and asked the organisers, the All-Pakistan Contractors’ Association and Project Management Institute to work in this direction.

He said the present government had started major roads and highways projects worth billions of rupees and these would be completed by the year 2015.

We need project management experts to complete these project efficiently and in time. At present 20 to 22 projects are delayed including the most important Islamabad-Murree project, because of the lack of project management experts, he said.

He said the broadening of the Karakoram Highway, M1, M4, M5, M6 M7, RCD Highway, N55 Highway and extension of the Gwadar Highway to Hub Road.

Replying to a question about the use of substandard material in the construction of Thatta Road, the minister said a departmental inquiry had been initiated on the complaint of the Sindh government.

He said if any irregularity was found, the contractor would be black-listed and departmental staff punished.—APP