Islamabad, April 27, 2026: The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs on Monday halted the financial bidding process of the National Highway Authority (NHA) for the N-45 Chakdara–Chitral Road project, citing serious concerns over transparency and the exclusion of project consultants.
The meeting, chaired by Saifullah Abro, reviewed key development initiatives across the communications, energy, and urban sectors, raising questions over governance and oversight.
Committee members, including Haji Hidayatullah Khan, Kamran Murtaza, and Kamil Ali Agha, expressed dissatisfaction over discrepancies in the data presented regarding the N-45 project, terming it incomplete and inadequate.
Officials informed the committee that the position of General Manager (P&CA) at the National Highway Authority remains vacant. The panel also took strong exception to the absence of consultants during the bid evaluation process, calling it a major procedural lapse.
The committee directed both the Economic Affairs Division and NHA to suspend the tendering process until all required documentation, including feasibility reports and project maps, is submitted for review. It also proposed the establishment of a dedicated desk within EAD to monitor the tendering process and ensure transparency, with the inclusion of EAD representatives in procurement proceedings.
Separately, the committee ordered recovery of Rs20 million in connection with irregularities in the repair of the GT-14 machine at the 660MW Jamshoro coal-fired power plant.
During a briefing on the project, supported by the Asian Development Bank, members were informed that the plant is currently operating on 80 per cent imported coal, with studies underway to shift to local coal. The committee emphasized reducing reliance on imported fuel to conserve foreign exchange and questioned why RLNG was not being supplied to the plant despite its proximity to the port.
The panel also raised concerns over the auctioning of potentially rehabilitable thermal power plants and sought detailed records of such transactions, along with procurement data for imported coal.
Broader issues discussed included capacity payments to Independent Power Producers (IPPs), licensing requirements for solar energy users, rising electricity tariffs, surcharges, and persistent load-shedding.
The committee further reviewed the Competitive & Livable City of Karachi (CLICK) project funded by the World Bank. Officials said the initiative focuses on rehabilitating existing infrastructure through local government institutions rather than new construction.
To enhance transparency, the chairman recommended geotagging of all rehabilitated schemes and called for improved coordination between EAD and the Sindh government. The committee was also informed that the UIPT Survey 2025 conducted under the CLICK project has identified approximately 4.4 million property units, significantly expanding the tax base.
The meeting concluded with directives for submission of complete tendering records and ensuring the presence of senior officials in future briefings.
