Syed Ali Shah:Â
QUETTA, June 5, 2025: The Balochistan High Court has taken notice of significant delays in a major road infrastructure development project valued at Rs24.4 billion, raising critical questions about federal budget allocation, construction standards, and administrative inefficiencies.
A divisional bench comprising Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan Mulakhail and Justice Najamuddin Mengal heard a constitutional petition filed by Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal regarding the stalled Ziarat Mor-Kach-Harnai-Sanjavi road project.
The court was informed that a revised PC-I (Project Cycle-I) has been prepared for the 165.716 km long project, which is divided into two phases:
- Package I: Ziarat Mor–Kach–Harnai Road (109.882 km)
- Package II: Harnai–Sanjavi Road (55.834 km)
According to the Additional Advocate General Balochistan, delays were caused by unresolved differences between the National Highway Authority (NHA) and a third-party consultant. The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has deferred the final position paper to allow both sides to reach a technical consensus.
The NHA warned that attempts to reduce the project cost could compromise safety and durability due to the region’s mountainous geography, flood zones, and risk of natural disasters. Originally estimated at Rs24,423.880 million, the project cost was revised to Rs13,761.609 million by the consultant.
Officials stated that the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting scheduled for May 27, 2025, was postponed due to administrative hurdles. The court directed NHA to complete necessary work swiftly, especially before the upcoming 2025-26 federal budget, warning that further delays would not be tolerated.
The bench stressed that the road project must remain part of the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2025-26, as removing it would hinder essential connectivity and regional development.
The court ordered that copies of its directive be circulated among all relevant government departments for immediate compliance.
