—AGP asked to audit five NHA projects which were inordinately delayed
ISLAMABAD: In a major development, Minister of State for Communications Murad Saeed has directed the auditor general of Pakistan (AGP) to conduct a special audit of five mega projects initiated under the supervision of former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf.
The letter written in this regard stated that certain projects of National Highway Authority (NHA) were inordinately delayed causing price escalation and other adverse effects on the government, requesting that the audit may be completed within 30 days.
According to the letter, a copy of which is available with Pakistan Today, the projects in question included Khuzdar-Shahdadkot section of M-8 motorway, Gwadar-Turbat-Hoshab section of M-8 motorway, Lowari Tunnel (N-45), Lyari Expressway and Kalat-Quetta-Chamman Road (N-25).
Lyari Expresway, stretching 16 kilometers, was initiated in May 2002 with a cost of Rs5.081 billion, which was revised to Rs11.521 billion. The project was originally started in November 2004 but was completed in January 2018.
The 151-kilometre long Khuzdar-Shahdadkot section of M-8 motorway was started in April 2004 whereas the Gwadar-Turbat-Hoshab section of M-8 was started in June 2004. Both projects were initiated at a cost of Rs23.168 billion and were to be completed by 2006.
However, the projects were completed in May 2018 and February 2016 respectively. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) had approved Rs36 billion for the projects.
Under the Lowari Tunnel (N-45) civil works project, the government aimed at developing two tunnels – 8.5 kilometres and 1.9 kilometres long – and the project was commenced in September 2005 with a projected cost of Rs7.983 billion. However, the project was revised to Rs26.85 billion and was completed in July 2017 instead of its original cut date of September 2008.
Moreover, the 226-kilometre long Kalat-Quetta-Chaman Road (N-25) was initiated in February 2006 and was to be completed in December 2008 with a projected cost of Rs6.671 billion. The project instead was completed in December 2016 with an escalated cost of Rs19.40 billion.
MURAD SLAMS FORMER GOVT:
Earlier during a session of the National Assembly on Tuesday, Murad Saeed sharply criticised the previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government saying that money laundering and theft were common during the PML-N’s reign.
“Those who are questioning our government’s direction should first answer why a PIA aircraft was stolen during their tenure,” he said.
Saeed claimed that $10 billion were sent out of Pakistan illegally when PML-N was at the helm of affairs.
“We are not afraid of naming Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, neither has a helicopter ever transported money for our prime minister,” said Saeed.