Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives has voiced serious concerns over the sluggish progress of dam projects in Balochistan, citing funding shortfalls and surging costs as major hurdles.
The committee, chaired by Senator Quratulain Marri, convened at the Parliament House on Monday where officials from the Planning Department presented updates on 23 ongoing dam projects across the province.
According to the briefing, 18 of these projects are at risk of significant delays, with deadlines already missed for 14.
Alarmingly, four projects have come to a complete halt due to major cost escalations, putting essential water infrastructure in jeopardy.
The total estimated cost of the projects stands at Rs182.83 billion, but only Rs50.55 billion has been utilized so far. This amounts to a financial progress of just 21.7%, indicating severe underperformance in execution and funding disbursement.
The committee also urged authorities to explore tourism incentive schemes for Gwadar to spur development and requested updates from the provincial government on related initiatives.
Meanwhile, former finance minister and Awam Pakistan Party leader Miftah Ismail criticized the Balochistan road project, claiming it lacked formal approval and was used to mislead the public.
He warned of possible financial mismanagement, including potential hikes in petroleum levies if tax revenues fall short, and called for policy consistency and a national dialogue under the Council of Common Interests (CCI).
Development in Balochistan, Gwadar
The Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, chaired by Senator Qurratulain Marri, has expressed concern over the slow progress of dam projects in Balochistan and called for enhanced focus and investment in Gwadar’s development and tourism potential.
For the current fiscal year, Rs. 22.38 billion was allocated for 23 dam projects in Balochistan.
However, only Rs. 5.31 billion has been released, and Rs. 4.86 billion utilized, reflecting an overall financial progress of merely 21.7%.
Officials highlighted that delays, cost escalations, and insufficient funding continue to hinder timely completion.
In the same meeting, the Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) briefed the committee on infrastructure achievements, including the completion of a 7-kilometer stretch on Kalamat Avenue, a GDA school spread over 84 acres, and a 50-bed hospital with future expansion capacity.
Read More: PMD Issues Drought Warning for Sindh, Balochistan, and Punjab
Officials appealed for more funds to promote tourism in Gwadar.
Senator Afnan Ullah proposed declaring Gwadar a tax-free zone to attract investment, contrasting the outflow of Pakistani capital to Dubai.
Senator Zeeshan Khanzada stressed the need to create a conducive environment for local investors to develop Gwadar into a “shining star.”
Despite security concerns noted by a Planning Commission member, Minister of State for Planning Erumghan Subhani expressed optimism, stating that China has demonstrated success in high-risk areas and can be a reliable development partner.
He also emphasized Gwadar’s strategic importance and advocated for budgetary allocations to promote tourism in the region.
The committee voiced strong disapproval over the repeated absence of the Secretary of Communications from meetings, noting he missed four consecutive sessions without notification.
A summons has now been issued to ensure his attendance at the next meeting.
Roads in Balochistan
In a related update, the National Highway Authority (NHA) informed the committee about financing proposals submitted to Azerbaijan for the M-6 Motorway project.
Subhani confirmed the Sukkur-Hyderabad-Karachi Motorway is a priority, with negotiations ongoing with the Islamic Development Bank and Azerbaijan.
Also Read: PPL Signs Deal for Baryte, Lead & Zinc Mining in Balochistan
He noted that if external funding isn’t secured, the government is prepared to complete the project using its own resources.
The committee concluded by calling for a comprehensive tourism incentive package and requested detailed updates from the provincial government on Gwadar’s development strategy and planning.
