Rs3.42 billion approved for relaunching of stalled road projects

ISLAMABAD, Jan 6: After a long struggle of 19 months involving four investigations by the communication and works (C&W) department, the anti-corruption department, the KP investigation team (PIT) and NAB, the revised cost estimates of both the Booni-Shandur and Booni-Buzund (Torkhow) road projects amounting to Rs.3.42 billion were on Tuesday approved at a meeting of Central Development Working Party (CDWP) in Islamabad, MNA Chitral Shahzada Iftikhar Uddin told ChitralToday.

The same day, the MNA Chitral also appraised the prime minister on the floor of the National Assembly where Chaudhry Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Planning Development & Reforms, as well as Finance Minister Ishaq Dar were also present, of the problems faced by the people of Chitral due to the delay on the completion of both the projects. The prime minister directed Chaudhry Ahsan Iqbal to speed up the process and ensure timely release of funds for both the projects.

The prime minister also informed the MNA about the increase of funds for early completion of Lowari Tunnel and directed the concerned ministers, Ahsan Iqbal and Ishaq Dar, to ensure timely release of the funds. MNA Chitral thanked the prime minister on behalf of the landlocked people of Chitral for taking keen interest in Chitral’s development and requested him to visit Lowari Tunnel and Chitral to inaugurate the Booni-Mastuj and Booni-Shandur roads.

The MNA also conveyed the good news by telephone to Chief Engineer C&W North (KPK) Mr. Ijaz Ahmed Yousafzai and asked him to start early mobilization of the work so that all administrative requirements are met before finances are released for the two vital projects.

The MNA clearly told the C&W as well as Planning Commission of Pakistan authorities to shortlisht the best companies before restart of the work and ensure that funds are released only after physical progress on ground and not to repeat the mistakes of the past that lead to four inquiries. The MNA also met the chief of the Monitoring Mission at the Planning Commission of Pakistan, Engineer Ayaz Zamir, to ensure strict monitoring of Chitral’s key road projects and have zero tolerance for corruption.

The MNA clearly told the chief engineer north to ensure that misappropriation of public funds shall not be tolerated since Rs.3.42 billion would be the greatest development initiative of the federal government to ensure quality road and better connectivity in the remote district. Besides MNA Chitral, Munir Ahmad Anjum, chief of transport at the Planning Commission, Ministry of Planning Development & Reforms, Ijaz Yousafzai, chief engineer C&W and Mohammad Arif, XEN C&W Chitral, also participated in the meeting.