ISLAMABAD, Aug 4: The Senate Standing Committee on Communications and Railways has directed the National Highway Authority to expedite repair of roads that were damaged by recent rains and floods in Balochistan.

In a meeting the committee took stock of the damage caused to different roads, especially the Coastal Highway. Senator Kamil Ali Agha chaired the meeting.

The committee observed that the process of economic development and roads network were inter-linked. The NHA should take serious notice of this fact and make every effort to repair the damaged highways as early as possible.

Most of the destruction has occurred in Balochistan where, as a result of broken roads, the process of economic development has also been severely affected.

Participants of the meeting stressed on the early completion of repair works to kick start economic activities.

NHA chairman Maj-Gen Imtiaz Ahmad apprised the committee of damage and destruction caused by the natural calamities to roads and highways in Balochistan.

According to the NHA estimates, only 11 culverts have been damaged out of 1737.

Regarding recruitments on different vacancies available in the NHA and Motorway Police, members of the committee advised the concerned officials to give preference to local people of the province. This would help in removing the sense of deprivation amongst people, they noted.

Kamil Ali Agha said that the president and prime minister were interested in steady development of Balochistan and greater representation of its people in different national organisations.

Those who attended the meeting included Senators Asfandyar Wali Khan, Mir Muhammad Nasir Khan Mengal, Naeem Hussain Chatta, Abdul Ghafar Qureshi, Nawab Muhammad Ayaz Khan Jogazai and Dr Muhammad Ismail Buledi.

The federal communications minister Muhammad Shamim Siddiqui, inspector general of the Motorway Police and some other senior officers of the communications ministry and its subordinate departments attended the meeting.