Shaikh reviews NHA’s financial needs for 5 projects

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs Abdul Hafeez Shaikh reviewed the financial needs of National Highway Authority (NHA) proposed by the Ministry of Communication while chairing a meeting on Monday.

The communication division secretary gave a brief about the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) allocations, releases and utilisation of funds for NHA projects for 2011-12 in a detailed presentation. He gave a province-wise detail of projects and requirement of funds for completion of these projects in 2012. He also highlighted the major reason for excess foreign loan spending in PSDP 2011-12 allocations.

The meeting discussed at length the ongoing five projects namely: (i) Larkana-Mohenjodaro project (ii) Hyderabad-Badin Road to Mir Wah Sanjar project (iii) Larkana-Kambar-Shahdadkot project (Pack-I) (iv) Larkana-Nasirabad project and (v) Qazi Ahmand-Amri Bridge project in Sindh province.

The communication division secretary gave a brief about the progress of these projects and informed the meeting that Rs 2.2 billion has already been consumed in these projects. He demanded that Rs 4.6 billion might be required to complete the said five projects in time.

While deliberating the financial constraints of NHA, the communication minister commented that we should focus to complete the ongoing projects rather than starting new projects, which also hinders the progress of ongoing projects.

While concluding the meeting, finance minister decided to conduct a small group meeting comprising communication minister, minister for religious affairs, minister for finance, secretary communication, secretary finance, Planning Commission deputy chairman and NHA chairman, which will be held in next two or three days. The purpose of this meeting is to find out the ways and means to fulfil the financial needs, which may be required by the NHA for completion of aforementioned five projects up to the end of this fiscal year – June 30, 2012. This meeting will also deliberate on the funds that may be required by NHA by the end of this year - December 2012.

Minister for Religious Affairs Khursheed Shah pointed out the importance of Ghotki-Kandhkot Project in the meeting. The meeting also discussed the matters of ‘issues in Lawari Tunnel project’ and ‘financial requirement of ERRA’