Islamabad
Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Reforms in its meeting on Monday called for better prioritisation of projects and has recommended the completion of old projects before initiating new ones to overcome time and cost overruns.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani at the Parliament House on Monday. The attendees included Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmed, Rukhsana Zuberi, Gian Chand, and officials from Planning Development and Reforms department, National Highway Authority and Balochistan government.
The committee was told that on its recommendation, Pakistan Planning and Management Institute (PPMI) had designed a course focusing on the significance of time and cost overruns in projects pertaining to planning and management.
The committee was also apprised of the fact that PPMI had designed workshops and activities to enhance the motivational and leadership aspects of participants.
Moreover, the committee decided to hold a detailed briefing by the NHA regarding the monthly increase in toll tax and its percentage during last year, along with land acquisition methods and payments.
The committee was informed that many land acquisition problems stemmed from the centuries-old land acquisition acts that needed to be amended for modern needs.
While being briefed regarding the delay in execution and cost escalation of the ‘Construction/Upgradation of Dirgi Shabzai (N70) to Taunsa (N55) Road, Balochistan’ project, in which the federal government has a share of 60 percent, the committee was surprised to know that the project was heading nowhere after so many years.
The committee directed that projects needed to be well-researched and properly prioritised for the work to be completed in a timely manner.
The committee was also given a briefing on the progress of Metro Bus Service from Peshawar Morr to the New Islamabad International Airport. The committee was informed that the project would be completed by February 2020.
Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Reforms in its meeting on Monday called for better prioritisation of projects and has recommended the completion of old projects before initiating new ones to overcome time and cost overruns.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani at the Parliament House on Monday. The attendees included Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmed, Rukhsana Zuberi, Gian Chand, and officials from Planning Development and Reforms department, National Highway Authority and Balochistan government.
The committee was told that on its recommendation, Pakistan Planning and Management Institute (PPMI) had designed a course focusing on the significance of time and cost overruns in projects pertaining to planning and management.
The committee was also apprised of the fact that PPMI had designed workshops and activities to enhance the motivational and leadership aspects of participants.
Moreover, the committee decided to hold a detailed briefing by the NHA regarding the monthly increase in toll tax and its percentage during last year, along with land acquisition methods and payments.
The committee was informed that many land acquisition problems stemmed from the centuries-old land acquisition acts that needed to be amended for modern needs.
While being briefed regarding the delay in execution and cost escalation of the ‘Construction/Upgradation of Dirgi Shabzai (N70) to Taunsa (N55) Road, Balochistan’ project, in which the federal government has a share of 60 percent, the committee was surprised to know that the project was heading nowhere after so many years.
The committee directed that projects needed to be well-researched and properly prioritised for the work to be completed in a timely manner.
The committee was also given a briefing on the progress of Metro Bus Service from Peshawar Morr to the New Islamabad International Airport. The committee was informed that the project would be completed by February 2020.