Syed Ali Shah:Â
Quetta, February 26 – The Balochistan High Court has expressed dissatisfaction over the progress report regarding the dualization of National Highway N-25 (Karachi-Khuzdar-Kuchlak-Chaman) and the maintenance of Sorab-Gwadar Road.
A divisional bench, comprising Justice Abdullah Baloch and Justice Iqbal Ahmed Kasi, rejected the report as unsatisfactory and summoned the Chairman of the National Highway Authority (NHA) and the Secretary of the Planning Division for the next hearing.
During the proceedings, the court directed the NHA chairman to take immediate steps to ensure the timely completion of N-25 and the repair of N-85.
The hearing was conducted on a constitutional petition filed by advocate Elahi Bakhsh regarding the deteriorating condition of N-25. Advocate Bakhsh, along with Deputy Attorney General Naseer Ahmed Bangulzai, Additional Advocate General Nusrat Baloch, and NHA officials, appeared before the court.
The NHA representatives informed the bench that the final decision to dualize the N-25 highway has been made. However, the bidding process, initially scheduled for February 18, 2025, was postponed until March 4, 2025, due to complaints filed with the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PEPRA).
NHA’s General Manager (West), Syed Ashraf Ali Shah, updated the court that nearly 90% of repair work on the Nag-Hoshab section of the CPEC road has been completed. He also submitted photographic evidence of the ongoing work. Despite these claims, the court noted that the NHA had failed to take adequate steps for the dualization of N-25, citing a lack of capacity and failure to even complete the land acquisition process.
Expressing frustration over the slow progress, the court criticized the Planning Division for not sending a representative or presenting a progress report. The judges ordered the Chairman NHA and the Secretary Planning Division to appear in person at the next hearing and ensure the timely completion of the Karachi-Khuzdar-Kuchlak-Chaman road project, along with the availability of required funds.
The court emphasized the hardships faced by the public due to the absence of dual carriageways and directed that a detailed progress report be submitted at the next hearing. Additionally, the Chief Officer of the Municipal Corporation Hub presented a progress report, which was recorded and shared with the petitioner.
The next hearing is scheduled for March 10, 2025.
