ISLAMABAD – The Capital Development Authority has started the construction work of Kashmir Highway without sending its fresh PC-1 worth over Rs 3 billion to National Economic Council (NEC).
“The old PC-1 of Kashmir Highway project is Rs 2.2 billion, which was approved by the NEC in 2007 but the CDA has not sent the new PC-1 of Kashmir Highway project of over Rs 3 billion under which they tendered and started the project,” a source in CDA finance wing told Pakistan Today.
Source said that the higher officials CDA had decided that they would start the construction work of Kashmir Highway under the old PC-1 and would later sent the revised PC-1 to NEC to avoid difficulties in the release of fund. “According to the rules, CDA is bound to get PC-1 approved before starting construction,” source said.
He said that construction of Kashmir Highway is Public Sector Development Project (PSDP) therefore 50 percent of the total cost the project will be provided by the federal government. The CDA has allocated Rs 241 million in the current budget but the government so far has only released Rs 100 million, he said.
The source said the cash-strapped CDA has started the construction in order to please the leadership while work on many ongoing projects has been stopped because of lack of funds. “They have left ongoing projects incomplete to please the government,” the source added. When contacted, CDA spokesman Ramzan Sajid said that the project is approved by NEC and the total cost of the project is Rs 2.2 billion, adding that the project will be completed in 2013.
He said that that the 8 kilometers long road will connect Golra More to Peshawar More. “CDA has awarded contract of the project according to rules and regulations to ensure its timely execution,” he said.
