MPs concerned over 19 percent hike in toll on motorway.

Byline: Fawad Yousafzai

ISLAMABAD -- A parliamentary committee has shown concern over 19 percent hike in toll on motorway during last fiscal and asked the National Highway Authority to determine that on whose recommendation the tax is being increased. Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Reforms, which met with Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani in the chair, was informed that usually the toll on the motorway was being increased 10 percent annually however it was increased by 19 percent during previous fiscal year.

Senator Rana Maqbool said that even 10 percent raise in toll annually was too high. It is a matter of public interest and 10 percent annual raise mean that masses will be burdened with 50 percent raise in five years, he added.

He asked that who is authorizing increase in toll? Official of the NHA replied that the Executive Board of NHA approves the raise. What is the procedure and who is recommending increase in toll to the Executive Board, Senator Rana Maqbool questioned.

Senator Shahzaib Durrani said that it is an important matter and the committee should be briefed in detail in next meeting.

The committee was also given a briefing on progress of construction of infrastructure and allied works for Metro Bus Service Peshawar Morr to New Islamabad International Airport and was told that the project will be completed by February 2020. It is pertinent to mention here that as per the PC-I of the project it was scheduled to be completed in August 2018.

Senate Standing Committee also called for better prioritisation of projects and has recommended completing ongoing projects before initiating new ones to overcome time and cost overrun.

The committee was told that on the committee's recommendation PPMI has designed settled course focusing on the significance of time and cost overrun in project planning and management. PPMI has also designed workshops and...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT