ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Communications was on Wednesday informed that work on the Sukkur-Hyderabad (M-6) Motorway would commence by the end of October 2026.
The committee decided to visit the project site, hold a meeting there and attend the groundbreaking ceremony.
The committee meeting, chaired by Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani, met in the Constitution Room of Parliament House to review several matters concerning road infrastructure, delays in major projects, maintenance standards, toll collection and ongoing motorway schemes. The committee expressed dissatisfaction with the Ministry of Communications’ response to Starred Question No 55, moved by Syed Rafiullah, MNA, regarding the deterioration of roads shortly after their completion due to substandard construction and poor planning. The ministry attributed the problem to extreme weather conditions and inadequate funds for maintenance.
However, the committee and the mover were not satisfied with the generalised response and directed the ministry to provide a specific and comprehensive reply. The committee noted that the matter had remained pending for nearly eight months and directed the ministry to appear fully prepared at the next meeting.
The committee also examined the deteriorated condition of the Sukkur-Shikarpur Highway, a matter raised by Shaharyar Khan Mahar, MNA. It expressed concern over frequent accidents on the road and dissatisfaction with the response of National Highways Authority (NHA) officials who claimed that periodic maintenance work had been completed.
The NHA chief executive officer acknowledged the discrepancy between the officials’ response and the actual ground situation. He informed the committee that an M&I report had been prepared, the official concerned would be suspended and an inquiry would be conducted. He assured that the inquiry findings would be submitted and that the outstanding payment to the contractor would not be released. The ministry was allowed to submit a fresh response at the next meeting.
Regarding the Ratodero-Gwadar Motorway (M-8), the committee considered a matter raised by Khurshid Ahmed Junejo, MNA, concerning the provision of funds for completion of the project. The ministry informed the committee that a hydrological study would be conducted to identify the most suitable design for the area linking Sindh with Balochistan. The report would be presented at the next meeting, while completion of the work was assured by November 2026. In view of the ministry’s assurance and with the consent of the mover, the committee closed the matter.
The committee deferred consideration of the delayed construction of the Karachi Port-Qayyumabad Road at the request of Syed Hafeezuddin, MNA, who sought time to redraft the agenda for consideration at the next committee meeting.
Syed Hafeezuddin, convener of the committee’s sub-committee, presented a report concerning NHA throw-forward schemes under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2026-27, toll plazas on under-construction roads and the award of all toll plazas in Sindh to a single contractor.
The committee noted the sub-committee’s dissatisfaction over the absence of the secretary communications and NHA CEO without prior information, as well as the inadequate response from the ministry and NHA representatives. It decided to consider the sub-committee’s terms of reference (TORs) directly at its next meeting and directed a member of the committee to meet the NHA CEO the same day regarding toll collection on under-construction roads, particularly where such collection is contrary to the NHA policy and adequate facilities are not available to commuters.
The committee reviewed matters concerning the New Baran Bridge, Dera Murad Jamali Bypass, completion of the Bhong Interchange, the poor condition of Pindi-Batya-Sahianwala Road and progress on the M-10 project.
