Senate panel questions rising costs and delays in Balochistan dam projects
A Senate sub-committee met in Islamabad on Monday to review major infrastructure spending under the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan Package.
Water sector projects face scrutiny
Officials informed the committee that eighteen water-sector initiatives involving dams and canals have received approval. The Planning Commission stated the total approved cost for these schemes reaches Rs1.984 trillion. Members expressed serious concerns regarding delays and the escalating expenses associated with these developments.
Road infrastructure progress reported
Officials told the sub-committee that eighty-six percent of the Quetta Bypass project has been finished. Work on the Awaran-Hoshab Road stands at sixty-four percent completion according to department briefings. The group also reviewed plans for the Karachi-Chaman Highway and other priority road schemes.
Specific dam costs questioned
The committee noted a sharp rise in the revised cost of the Gish Kaur Storage Dam from Rs11bn to Rs44bn. Senator Jan Muhammad Baloch warned that restricting natural river flow could harm local irrigation systems. Authorities were directed to submit fresh assessments on the viability of these specific projects.
All 2 outlets report consistently
No differences in figures, names or dates across these reports.
- Business Recorder
- Dawn
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