Balochistan High Court Calls for Action on Slow Progress of National Highways Projects
The Balochistan High Court has expressed dissatisfaction with the progress report on national highways projects and summoned the Chairman of the National Highway Authority (NHA) and the Secretary of the Planning Division to appear before the court.
The Division Bench, consisting of Justice Abdullah Baloch and Justice Iqbal Ahmed Kasi, heard a constitutional petition filed by citizen Ilahi Bakhsh regarding the projects of upgrading National Highway N-25 (Karachi-Khuzdar, Khuzdar-Kuchlak-Chaman) into a dual carriageway, as well as the repair and rehabilitation of the road from Sorab to Gwadar.
During the hearing, the court deemed the progress report presented regarding the projects to be unsatisfactory. The court summoned the NHA Chairman and the Secretary of the Planning Division for the next hearing, instructing the NHA Chairman to ensure timely completion of N-25 and the repair of N-85.
It was informed during the hearing that the bidding for the N-25 road project, which was scheduled for February 18, 2025, was delayed due to some complaints raised before PEPRA and pending contractor applications. The bidding process has now been extended to March 4, 2025.
Sayed Ashraf Ali Shah, GM (Balochistan West) Gwadar, informed the court that approximately 90% of the CPEC road repair work from Nag to Hoshab has been completed, and he submitted photographic evidence to the court for record-keeping.
However, the bench noted that the NHA had failed to take adequate steps to move forward with the dualization of the N-25 highway, even lacking completion of land acquisition procedures.
The court expressed displeasure over the Planning Division’s failure to present a representative and a progress report. The bench ordered that all necessary funds be made available to ensure the timely completion of N-25 (Karachi-Khuzdar, Khuzdar-Kuchlak-Chaman) and directed that a progress report be presented at the next hearing.
The hearing was adjourned until March 10, 2025.
