National Assembly Committee Demands Accountability in Development Projects, Urges Swift Action on Healthcare and CPEC Initiatives
Islamabad:: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, chaired by Syed Abdul Qadir Gillani, convened today at 02:00 p.m. at Parliament House. The meeting addressed key concerns regarding the performance of the Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD) and other national development initiatives.
2. The Committee expressed dissatisfaction with the PWD’s role in executing and overseeing development projects, highlighting delays, budgetary cuts, and the shelving of projects as persistent issues. Members raised concerns about the management of allocated funds, citing instances of corruption, poor implementation, and disparities in fund distribution. With the responsibility for PWD projects being transferred to the provinces and allocations coming from the Cabinet Division, the Committee questioned the handling of incomplete projects and unreleased funds. They emphasized the need for accountability and transparency, calling for a detailed briefing from the PWD in the next session and stressing the importance of investigating these issues to ensure fair and efficient management of public resources.
3. The Committee also reviewed delays in the Ministry of Health’s project to provide free essential medicines to cancer patients, supported by a pharmaceutical company. The Ministry of Planning reported that due to late submission by the Ministry of Health, the project was not included in the current year’s Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) and will now be deferred to the next cycle. The Committee emphasized the importance of immediate follow-up to ensure this critical initiative is not further delayed and urged the relevant authorities to expedite the approval process to ensure timely provision of free cancer treatment.
4. The Committee was also briefed on key road infrastructure projects, including the Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway, which has been prioritized for inclusion in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to secure concessional financing. Concerns were raised regarding motorway safety and the equitable allocation of resources across regions. As a result, the Committee decided to hold an exclusive briefing on CPEC in the future.
5. The meeting was attended by MNAs Ms. Naz Baloch, Maj. (R) Tahir Iqbal, Syed Ali Musa Gillani, Muhammad Usman Awaisi, Mr. Dawar Khan Kundi, Ms. Akhtar Bibi, and Mr. Farhan Chishti, as well as Agha Rafiullah, Ms. Shahida Rehmani, and Naveed Jeeva as special invitees. Senior officials from the Ministry of Planning & Development, Housing & Works, and Communications were also present.
