ISLAMABAD: Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed Wednesday informed the Senate that international standards were followed in the construction of national roads.
Replying to a question in the House, he said the government was taking multiple steps to introduce new technologies to ensure high quality in roads construction.
Sheikh Aftab said the National Highway Authority (NHA) was committed to build environment friendly roads while integrating environmental, economic and community goals into the planning, design, construction and operation of national highways.
The minister said that NHA was determined to carry out a forestation across highways and motorways, and approximately 5.3 million trees and plants had alreday been planted.
He said no contract was awarded for the construction of toll plazas on national highways and motorways on Build Operate and Transfer Basis (BOT), and Build Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) basis during the last five years.
To a question, the minister said that it was not a fact that Karakoram Highway expansion project was completed in 2010. The project from Raikot to Khunjerab was, in fact, started in 2008 and taking over certificate was issued in 2013, whereas its defect liability period was expired in 2015.
He said that in fact the EXIM Bank of China’s share for that project was 85 percent of the contract cost of $ 490 million, whereas its PC-I cost was $ 510 million.
Sheikh Aftab said the land compensation amount of Rs 280 million was included in the PC-I as NHA’s share.
The PC-I amount of Rs 280 million, he said, had been released and disbursed partially among the affectees of Tehsil Aliababad, Hunza and Sikandarabad of District Nagar as 60 percent of the total land compensation.
The remaining 40 percent would be paid along with the affectees of District Diamer, Gilgit and Tehsil Gojal / Hunza after approval of the revised PC-I by Planning Commission, which had already been recommended by NHA Executive Board in its meeting, he added. (APP)