Supreme Court Expresses Anger Over Delays in Balochistan Road Projects, NHA Officials Summoned

Quetta (Qudrat Daily) – The Supreme Court of Balochistan expressed strong displeasure over delays in various road projects in the province, despite approximately PKR 127 billion having been released for their completion. A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan Malakhel and Justice Muhammad Najmuddin Mengal summoned officials from the National Highway Authority (NHA) for a detailed report.

During the hearing, the NHA representatives stated that the authority is primarily focused on the N-25 (Karachi-Khuzdar-Quetta-Chaman) project, which is considered crucial for interprovincial travel. They added that work on the N-50 (Kachlak-Zhob dualization project) is also ongoing.

However, lawyers and legal officers present in court strongly disputed NHA’s stance, highlighting the deteriorating road conditions causing significant inconvenience to commuters. The petitioner’s lawyer, Dost Muhammad Mandokhail, informed the court that despite repeated judicial directives, practical work on several projects—including N-25, M-08 (Hoshab-Awaran and Awaran-Nalk roads), and N-50—has not commenced, and construction activities in other areas remain stalled.

Chief Justice Malakhel remarked that it is unacceptable to halt construction and road maintenance in other parts of N-50 while some sections have been completed. The bench expressed concern over continuous delays in the N-50 dualization project due to various reasons.

The court stated that NHA’s repeated excuses for delays are alarming. When queried about new projects, pending works are often cited as justification, while satisfactory updates on ongoing projects are not provided. The bench instructed NHA officials to ensure compliance with court orders. Failure to do so will require officials to appear personally and explain the reasons for their shortcomings.

The court directed the NHA member for Balochistan to appear in the next hearing with a comprehensive report and warned that any further negligence would hold the NHA chairman personally accountable. A copy of the court order was also sent to the Advocate General’s office to ensure awareness and implementation. The next hearing has been scheduled for March 12, 2026.