ISLAMABAD - The NA Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Reforms on Monday expressed concern over the unnecessary delay in completion of up-gradation of 400 Railways coaches which increased the cost of the project by about 52 per cent from Rs 3434 million to Rs 5200 million.
The Committee noted that due to untimely release of funds, devaluation of Pak rupees and loadshedding the cost of the project has increased and has directed Pakistan Railways to ensure the completion of the project within the new timeframe in order to avoid further losses.
The Committee met under the Chairmanship of Abdul Majeed Khan Khanan Khail to discuss the up-gradation of 400 Railways coaches, feasibility study of construction of bridge on River Indus to Link Kallur Kot with DI Khan and up-gradation of critical care facilities at PIMS, Islamabad. The Committee also expressed grave concern over the unnecessary delay in completion of Peshawar Northern Bypass project and constituted a four-member sub-committee headed by Iftikhar-ud-Din MNA to inquire the reasons of the delay. The Committee directed that National Highways Authority (NHA) to complete the feasibility report of the construction on bridge on River Indus to Link Kallur Kot with DI Khan at the earliest so that the construction work of the project could be started without further delay.
The Committee expressed displeasure that recruitment of qualified/trained staff was eliminated from PC-I of PIMS for upgradation of critical care facilities consequently the administration of PIMS was facing problem to make it operational due to the shortage of manpower.