10:53 PM
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Terming release of Rs 1 billion as peanut for resuming work on Lowari tunnel project, Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on Tuesday lambasted the government for not taking seriously the lingering problem for the last several years, the only all-weather route connecting people of Chitral with rest of the country.Speaking on a point of order in National Assembly, he said that the Korean company, which undertook the construction work of the tunnel, had closed the project due to delay in release of funds.
The recently released Rs 1 billion for the project, he added, would be spent on clearing the earlier dues of the construction company.
He criticised the member National Assembly from Chitral Prince Mohiuddin for being grateful to the government for this allocation instead of asking the government to do justice, saying that such a meagre amount was not sufficient even cover the pending dues of the company."I was so upset to see the MNA who thanked the government while speaking in the National Assembly...why and for what you want this lip service, do you think one billion will be enough to resume work on the project," he asked.
He demanded of the government to release more funds on war footing for the project as it was one of the mega projects, which if completed will be a great service to the people of Chitral, who are in great agony."I visited Chitral via Lowari tunnel some two weeks back, which is in a dilapidated condition due to no proper upkeep and without any ventilation system as scarcity of funds has forced the contractor to close the work and again start after passage of months or years," he added.Responding to his point of order, minister for communication Arbab Alamgir Khan said that the Korean company had agreed to resume the work on the tunnel when the government would pay its dues.
In addition to Rs 1 billion granted under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), the minister said that the prime minister had also directed the Finance Ministry and the Planning Division to release Rs 2 billion to the NHA for this purpose, which would be released within a week.He admitted negligence on part of the government regarding delay in work on the tunnel, due to continuous delay in release of funds.
"We admit there has been enormous delay despite realizing the importance of the project," he added.
Speaking on a point of order Anusha Rehman of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said that a report regarding privatisation of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), which was referred to NA standing committee on information technology for deliberation, was being delayed.
The report is ready and it must be presented in the house, she added.Shirin Arshad Khan of PML-N said that the former Sindh home minister Zulfiqar Mirza was an honourable person and the allegations he had levelled against a political party must be presented in the house.
"He is an honourable and a responsible man and the facts which he claims to posses against a political party must be shared with the members, in which, he has made some shocking revelations," she added.Lieutenant General Abdul Qadir Baloch (Retd) questioned that who was responsible for killings of security personnel, political workers and nationalists parties activists in Balochistan.
Baloch, who served as the Army's corps commander in Quetta and was also Governor of Balochistan, said the law and order situation was totally opposite to what was being told by the government and may further worsen if appropriate measures were not taken.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2011
The recently released Rs 1 billion for the project, he added, would be spent on clearing the earlier dues of the construction company.
He criticised the member National Assembly from Chitral Prince Mohiuddin for being grateful to the government for this allocation instead of asking the government to do justice, saying that such a meagre amount was not sufficient even cover the pending dues of the company."I was so upset to see the MNA who thanked the government while speaking in the National Assembly...why and for what you want this lip service, do you think one billion will be enough to resume work on the project," he asked.
He demanded of the government to release more funds on war footing for the project as it was one of the mega projects, which if completed will be a great service to the people of Chitral, who are in great agony."I visited Chitral via Lowari tunnel some two weeks back, which is in a dilapidated condition due to no proper upkeep and without any ventilation system as scarcity of funds has forced the contractor to close the work and again start after passage of months or years," he added.Responding to his point of order, minister for communication Arbab Alamgir Khan said that the Korean company had agreed to resume the work on the tunnel when the government would pay its dues.
In addition to Rs 1 billion granted under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), the minister said that the prime minister had also directed the Finance Ministry and the Planning Division to release Rs 2 billion to the NHA for this purpose, which would be released within a week.He admitted negligence on part of the government regarding delay in work on the tunnel, due to continuous delay in release of funds.
"We admit there has been enormous delay despite realizing the importance of the project," he added.
Speaking on a point of order Anusha Rehman of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said that a report regarding privatisation of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), which was referred to NA standing committee on information technology for deliberation, was being delayed.
The report is ready and it must be presented in the house, she added.Shirin Arshad Khan of PML-N said that the former Sindh home minister Zulfiqar Mirza was an honourable person and the allegations he had levelled against a political party must be presented in the house.
"He is an honourable and a responsible man and the facts which he claims to posses against a political party must be shared with the members, in which, he has made some shocking revelations," she added.Lieutenant General Abdul Qadir Baloch (Retd) questioned that who was responsible for killings of security personnel, political workers and nationalists parties activists in Balochistan.
Baloch, who served as the Army's corps commander in Quetta and was also Governor of Balochistan, said the law and order situation was totally opposite to what was being told by the government and may further worsen if appropriate measures were not taken.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2011
Posted in: Chitral,Lawari Tunnel
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