admin 
Islamabad (Manend News) 19th meeting of the Standing Committee on Planning Development and Special Initiatives was held in the Committee Room of the Ministry of Planning Development & Special Initiatives, Pak Secretariat, Islamabad, under the Chairmanship of Mr. Junaid Akbar, MNA.
The Committee unanimously confirmed minutes of its previous meeting held on 16th August, 2021. The Ministry gave a compliance report regarding the recommendations of the previous meeting. However, the Committee raised its concern over the lapse on part of Water and Power Distribution Authority (WAPDA) for not being able to revise the financial estimates of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam Project despite an expected sharp increase in its cost due to high inflation and unprecedented rise in the price of U.S. Dollar. The Committee reiterated that the Ministry should play an active role in ensuring financial discipline regarding the projects that were being undertaken by various departments.
The representatives of the National Highways Authority gave a detailed briefing on the improvement, upgradation and widening of Juglot-Skardu Road [Revised PSDP No. 67(2021-2022)]. The delay in the execution of the said project was accrued due to number obstacles including dangerous and difficult terrain as well as huge boulders and rocks. However, the Committee was told that more than sixty percent of the said project had been executed while the rest was expected to be complete by the end of November 2021. It was also informed that the ease of travelling had increased manifold due to the said project and curtailed half the travelling time. The Committee noted that the process of land acquisition for such projects should be completed prior to their commencement to avoid any unnecessary delays. The Committee also observed that there was a lack of co-ordination between the PSDP projects of the Federal Government and the Annual Development Programs (ADP) of the Provincial Governments especially with regards to underdeveloped and neglected areas of the country. The Committee recommended that the Ministry may take measures to come up with a National Action Plan to develop the underprivileged areas by harmonizing the PSDPs and ADPs for their proper execution.
The Committee took a briefing on the progress of the Inter-Provincial Connectivity Economic Corridor through Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir Project [PSDP No. 691 (2021-2022)]. The Ministry informed that the said project was being given due importance as that provided an alternate route for the Karakoram Highway. However, the cases for federalization of the roads included for the said project were underway with their respective governments (Thalichi, Gilgit-Baltistan to Shounter, Azad Jammu & Kashmir). A detailed presentation on the status of Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway was also given by the National Highways Authority. The Committee was informed that the said project had been envisaged on Public-Private Partnership basis and was delayed due to unforeseen financial constraints on the National Exchequer because of Covid-19.
Honorable Members/MNAs Mr. Sher Akbar Khan, Mr. Saleh Muhammad, Mr. Shaukat Ali, Syed Faiz ul Hassan, Mr. Nawab Sher, Mr. Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, Sardar Nasrullah Khan Dreshak, Mr. Muhammad Sajjad, Mr. Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary, Mr. Junaid Anwar Chaudhary, Sardar Muhammad Irfan Dogar, Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Mr. Naveed Dero and Syed Agha Rafiullah attended the meeting.