PkMAP Raises Serious Concerns Over Slow Progress, Quality Issues and Delayed Land Compensation on N-25

QUETTA: The Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) has expressed serious concern over the slow pace of work, alleged quality issues and delays in payment of land compensation on the Quetta-Chaman section of National Highway N-25.

In a central press release, the party said progress on the strategically important Quetta-Chaman section was moving at an unsatisfactory pace, while affected landowners were also facing delays in receiving compensation. It said the issues were hindering timely completion of the major national highway project and causing difficulties for local communities.

The party also expressed concern over the prolonged absence of National Highway Authority (NHA) Balochistan Member Basharat Hussain Malik and General Manager Dad Khan from their respective offices and project sites.

According to the statement, the two officials spend most of their time in Islamabad and visit Quetta only occasionally, while their field and site visits are also insufficient. The party said this had resulted in inadequate attention to key matters related to project progress, land acquisition and compensation, quality control, contractual issues and coordination with relevant departments.

PkMAP stressed that regular presence of senior officials at the project site was essential for effective supervision and timely decision-making, particularly for a project of such strategic importance.

The party further expressed concern over reports that construction quality at certain locations was below the required standards. It warned that if deficiencies were not identified and corrected during construction, the road could deteriorate prematurely after completion, potentially causing significant financial losses to the government.

The party called for effective and continuous field monitoring to ensure that construction work was carried out in accordance with approved designs, specifications and prescribed quality standards.

PkMAP urged the federal minister for communications to take immediate notice of the situation and consider appropriate administrative action, including the transfer of the NHA Balochistan member and the general manager responsible for the N-25 project.

The party called for competent and capable officers familiar with Balochistan’s local conditions to be appointed to these key positions and urged them to remain at their designated stations.

According to PkMAP, regular field presence of responsible officials would improve project supervision, accelerate construction, help resolve pending land compensation and other issues, and ensure effective quality control.