The Senate Standing Committee on Planning, led by Senator Qurratulain Marri, has raised serious concerns over the slow progress of dam construction in Balochistan. During a briefing, it was revealed that 18 out of 23 ongoing dam projects are facing significant delays — including 14 dams that missed their completion deadlines and 4 more stalled due to cost overruns.
Officials reported that the 23 projects, comprising 11 small and 12 large dams, have a combined cost of Rs. 182.83 billion, yet only Rs. 50.55 billion has been spent so far. For the current fiscal year, Rs. 22.38 billion was allocated, but only Rs. 5.31 billion has been released, and Rs. 4.86 billion utilized — leaving the financial progress at a mere 21.7%.
Gwadar Development Discussed: Tax-Free Zone Proposed to Attract Investment
The committee also reviewed development projects in Gwadar, where the Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) updated members on completed and ongoing initiatives. These include:
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Completion of a 7-km Kalamat Avenue road
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An 84-acre GDA school
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An operational 50-bed GDA hospital with room for future expansion.
GDA officials called for more funding to develop Gwadar as a tourism hub, while Senator Afnan Ullah proposed declaring it a tax-free zone to attract both domestic and international investors. Committee members stressed that Pakistan must develop Gwadar to prevent capital flight to places like Dubai.
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NHA & Motorway Developments: M-6 Financing Under Review
The committee also discussed Pakistan’s motorway infrastructure, specifically the M-6 Sukkur-Hyderabad-Karachi Motorway. Officials revealed that a financing proposal has been submitted to Azerbaijan, while the government is also negotiating with the Islamic Development Bank. Minister of State for Planning, Erumghan Subhani, confirmed that if external funding isn’t secured, the project will proceed through government resources.
Committee Slams Communications Secretary’s Absence
The committee voiced frustration over the repeated absence of the Secretary of Communications, who missed four consecutive meetings. Senator Marri announced that the committee will issue a formal summons for the Secretary to attend the next session.
In closing, the Senate body urged the government to prepare a comprehensive plan to promote tourism in Gwadar and requested a detailed report on development measures from both federal and provincial authorities.
