Senate Committee expresses concerns over policy board structure amid M-6 project progress review

ISLAMABAD, Oct 02 (SABAH): Senator Quratulain Marri chaired the meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Special Initiatives held on Wednesday at Parliament House.

The Senate Committee was briefed on the current status of the Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway M-6. Officials from the Ministry of Communications stated that the project was taken up in the Joint Working Group and that the Chinese showed interest in the project. It will be discussed in the upcoming JCC meeting expected in the next few months. The government aims to include the project in CPEC.

Senator Quratulain Marri expressed serious reservations about the ‘Policy Board’ constituted under the Ministry. She termed the Board a “High-Powered Board” and stated that it was established on the arbitrary basis. Chairperson Committee reiterated that there should be a proper selection criterion for nominations at this Board. The Secretary for the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives informed that the project was established to guide the ministry on important issues and that the nominations were made from various sections of society. The Committee recommended that Ministry may make proper Rules/ SOP’s for conduct and governance of the Policy Board.

In attendance were Senators Atta ur Rehman, Shahadat Awan, Jam Saifullah Khan, Secretary for Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Awais Manzur Sumra, Additional Secretary for Ministry of PD&SI Kamran Rehman Khan, and other senior officials from concerned departments.