ISLAMABAD (APP) - The Senate Standing Committee on Communications and Railways has asked the National Highway Authority (NHA) to complete the on-going projects undertaken in all the four provinces to improve the road network. It was pointed out that a road and rail link to Gwadar Port was need of the hour to connect the port with rest of the country along with Central Asia and China. The committee chaired by Kamil Ali Agha deplored the fact that a number of projects were adversely affected by non-availability of funds, which has not only intensified the problems of the commuters but also resulted in the price escalation. It urged the govt to ensure release funds to NHA. Earlier, the committee was given a briefing on the details of the on-going projects of NHA and status of road constructions from Gwadar-Hoshab, Hoshab-Panjgor and Panjgor-Nag sections. The committee urged the govt that adequate funds should be allocated for laying out rail links as it would help in stimulating trade and commercial activities in the area besides making the port fully operational. The committee sought report from the Secretary Planning and Development Division about the steps taken for the rail link to Gwadar. Members of the committee said that the relevant Ministries and department should gear up efforts so that the project could be expedited. The Committee appreciated completion of excavation work of "Lowari Tunnel." Senator Kamil Ali Agha said that completion of the tunnel would pave the way for socio-economic prosperity of the people of Chitral and would help them keep connected with the rest of the country through out the year. Earlier, Secretary Communications, Chairman NHA and senior officials of the ministry of Railways briefed the committee respectively on the projects being carried out by their respective organisations. Regarding commencement of the construction of rail link to Gwadar Port, it was informed that the Executive Committee of Railways Board has recently approved and PC-I, which would be presented for approval by the ECNEC and an allocation has to be made in PSDP. The committee underlined the need for expediting the process and directed all concerned to avoid further delays keeping in view the importance of the project and assured its all out support in overcoming the difficulties. Senators attended the meeting among others, Mir Muhammad Naseer Mengal, Naeem Hussain Chattha, Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi, Lt Gen(R) Javed Ashraf, Haji Muhammad Adeel, Nawab Muhammad Ayaz Khan Jogezai, Maulana Gul Naseeb Khan, Dr Muhammad Ismail Buledi besides Kamran Murtaza and senior officials of Ministry of Communications and Railways and NHA.