Experience of Working with FWO in Balochistan Has Not Been Good, Projects Are Handed to Petty Contractors: CM Sarfraz Bugti

QUETTA (Daily Qudrat Quetta): Chief Minister of Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti, criticising the performance of the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) in Balochistan, has said that the experience of working with this institution in the province has not been good, while the condition of roads built in his own area has also deteriorated. He said that development projects are given to FWO in the expectation that it will do quality work, but in practice this has not been seen.

Speaking during the ongoing session of the Balochistan Assembly, the Chief Minister said that FWO, after securing projects, hands them over to petty contractors, which raises questions about the quality of construction work. He said it is necessary to inform the people of Balochistan of the facts and to realistically assess the performance of development projects so that proper use of resources and quality construction can be ensured.

Mir Sarfraz Bugti, condemning incidents of road closures, destruction of bridges with explosives and burning of construction machinery, said that such elements claiming Baloch nationalism cannot be well-wishers of the Baloch nation. According to him, these actions are harming the people of Balochistan and the province’s development.

During the session, former Chief Minister of Balochistan and Balochistan National Party (BNP) chief Dr Abdul Malik Baloch also raised questions over the performance of the National Highway Authority (NHA). He said that NHA is not working effectively in Balochistan and the institution’s project directors do not even come to Balochistan.

After the reservations raised by both leaders in the Assembly session, the matter of national highways in the province, the quality of development projects and the monitoring of relevant institutions has come under discussion.