The Senate Standing Committee on Communications has voiced serious concerns about the practice of granting motorway interchanges to housing societies, cautioning that the National Highway Authority (NHA) should avoid facilitating the expansion of private enterprises.
The committee highlighted that an interchange requires 4,000 kanals of land from the housing society, with a payment of Rs. 60,000 per kanal and an additional fee of Rs. 5 million. A report on development projects along the N25 over the past decade has been requested.
The committee meeting, chaired by Senator Pervaiz Rasheed, included Senators Dost Ali Jeesar, Samina Mumtaz, Zamir Hussain Ghumro, Mohammad Abdul Qadir, Muhammad Tallal Badar, Mohsin Aziz, and Aon Abbass, along with senior officials from relevant departments.
The agenda covered several issues, including a notice by Senator Mohsin Aziz regarding commuter challenges from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Islamabad International Airport, particularly the lack of dedicated access from the M1 section. The NHA Chairman explained that the roundabout was closed due to Metro Bus construction and suggested using the Fateh Jang exit as an alternative. He promised to consult with the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and report back to the committee.
The committee also received a briefing on the issuance of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to Capital Smart City, Islamabad, for constructing a motorway interchange. Senator Aon Abbas questioned the legality of granting this NOC to a new colony on the M2 Motorway. The NHA Chairman clarified that the policy allows housing societies with 4,000 kanals of land to qualify for an interchange, with a fee of Rs. 5 million and Rs. 60,000 per kanal. Future interchange locations will be announced soon.
Senator Talal Chaudhry emphasized the strategic importance of the interchange’s location at the motorway entrance, advocating for its formal establishment. Officials noted that 14 institutions are involved in granting interchange construction permissions. Senator Chaudhry requested a comparative review of the previous and new policies, insisting that the Smart City interchange should meet all conditions before designation.
Chairman Pervaiz Rasheed expressed concerns about increasing private business interests with this interchange, warning that the NHA risks becoming a business partner under the guise of societal development. He questioned the absence of the local area’s name and noted the lack of visible barriers at interchanges, with this one being an exception. He stressed that future policies should prioritize motorway benefits over private interests.
Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri raised alarms over Balochistan Medical Emergency Response Center (BMERC) statistics, reporting 46,000 accidents on Balochistan highways over five years due to deteriorating conditions, resulting in numerous fatalities and injuries. She expressed dissatisfaction with the responses received.
Senator Abdul Qadir mentioned four projects on N25, valued at Rs. 40 billion, with an annual allocation of Rs. 5 billion, suggesting a ten-year completion timeline. The committee chairman recommended halting new projects in Balochistan until ongoing ones are completed. The NHA Chairman noted that projects exceeding Rs. 70 million undergo third-party audits. Senator Samina Mumtaz voiced concerns about corruption in Balochistan, linking inadequate infrastructure to rising extremism and corruption. She called for accountability regarding funds spent on Balochistan projects over the last decade.
Senator Abdul Qadir emphasized the need for security for contractors in Balochistan, as a lack of safety leads to equipment damage. The NHA Chairman confirmed an investment of Rs. 26.5 billion in N25 over the past ten years. Senator Samina Mumtaz argued that funds are mismanaged, highlighting daily road fatalities and their connection to extremism and corruption.
The NHA Chairman assured that safety signs would be installed once work begins on the “Bloody Road.” The committee chairman requested detailed information on N25 development work over the last decade. The IG of Motorway Police stated that full deployment on N25 is not feasible due to security concerns.
