A meeting of the Standing Committee on Communications and Works of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly was held on Wednesday at the Provincial Assembly Secretariat in Peshawar under the chairmanship of committee head and MPA Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani. The meeting was attended by Provincial Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Aftab Alam, members of the standing committee, and other MPAs, along with senior officials of the Communications and Works Department, Law Department, and Assembly Secretariat.
Review of Previous Decisions
The committee reviewed the implementation status of decisions taken in its previous meeting held on December 21, 2024. Members expressed strong dissatisfaction over what they described as slow progress on key development initiatives, particularly a multi-billion-rupee project involving the construction and rehabilitation of flood-affected roads and bridges in South Waziristan, former FATA regions, and Upper Dir.
Chairman Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani criticised the department for lack of progress, noting that little tangible advancement had been made even after several years.
Departmental Briefing and Actions
Briefing the committee, the Secretary of the Communications and Works Department informed members that three departmental inquiries related to the project had been completed. He said certain officials had been demoted by two grades as a result, while recovery of Rs82 million had been recommended from contractors involved in irregularities. He added that five contractors had obtained a stay order from the High Court against recovery proceedings, which has remained in place since August 2023. The secretary also pointed out limitations in legal follow-up capacity within the department.
In response, the committee chairman directed that a summary be submitted immediately for the appointment of a senior legal advisor to strengthen the department’s representation in court and expedite the lifting of the stay order, enabling recovery and inquiry proceedings to move forward.
Concerns Over Upper Dir and Mardan Roads
During the meeting, MPA Yamin Khan highlighted the deteriorating condition of roads and bridges in Upper Dir, stating that several flood-damaged structures had yet to be reconstructed despite being shown as completed in official records. Taking serious notice, the committee directed the formation of a sub-committee to visit Upper Dir, review ongoing and completed development projects, and submit its findings within 15 days.
Members also raised concern over the poor condition of key roads in Mardan district, including Bakhshali Road, Plodhari Road, and Katlang Road.
