Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Special Initiatives was briefed on Tuesday that the financial capacity by the federal government has over flown to fund the projects,.
“Too many demands competing too scare resources” the concerned ministry stated.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Senator Saleem Mandviwalla at the Parliament House.
The Committee while receiving briefing on the Ministry –wise Details of Projects costing less than Rs 2 billion.
The Chairman Committee raised question on the time and cost overrun projects. The Ministry while vetting upon the question said that financial capacity by the Federal Government has over flown to fund the projects. “Too many demands competing too scare resources” the Ministry stated.
The committee unanimously decided that meeting should be held with the representatives of each division on time and cost overrun projects and obtain a concrete report on the delay in the projects. The Ministry advised that a FiFo method should be adopted to thoroughly study the details of the ageing projects from approx. 2011.
The committee decided that the meeting will commence from the NHA projects in presence of the representations from the NHA division, the Planning Commission and the Ministry.
The committee also questioned on the large number of projects given to the Finance Division and the foreign aided projects and sought details.
The Ministry informed the committee that lack of cancellation policies is also one of the reasons the projects are not completed. “No project is ever cancelled” the Ministry stated. The Committee put forward the recommendations to introduce the policy of cancellation through the FiFo method.
The meeting was commenced by taking up agenda-wise points
The committee inquired about the progress report on the recommendation made by the committee in its meeting held on 16th September, 2021. On the recommendation of the Standing Committee to the CPEC Authority to make one member of Senate Standing Committee on Planning Development & Special Initiatives part of Joint Working Groups (JWGs) for future projects the committee was informed that the Joint Working Groups are headed by Secretaries of respective Ministries/Division who also decide matters related to composition of the groups. The committee was informed that the recommendation has been forwarded to heads of all CPEC JWGs vide letter of even date 22nd October, 2021.
Matter pertaining to issues of unconsented land acquisition for Mohmand Dam Project (Agenda item included on the request of Senator Bahramand khan Tangi) was disposed of stating therein by the concerned representatives that 80 pc process is completed and the issue is near to resolution under a Jirga.