ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Communications has summoned the chairman of the National Highway Authority (NHA) to explain why billions of rupees were spent on a section of the national highway (N-5) running directly past Park View Housing Society, a private development owned by Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan.
According to the agenda issued for the committee’s meeting scheduled for Friday, members will examine whether the NHA extended “undue favour” to the minister’s housing scheme in Lahore. One agenda point, item 10, explicitly raises the question: “Briefing by Chairman NHA on billions of rupees expenditure incurred on Hydera Bridge to Thokar Niaz Baig… is it not specifically favouring Park View Society?”
Park View Housing Society, owned by the minister and his family, is located on the main N-5, commonly known as GT Road, between Thokar Niaz Baig and Hydera Bridge.
When contacted by The Nation, NHA Central Zone Director Imran said the authority had completed a widening project on the same stretch in 2021. “Two lanes on each side of the highway were converted into three lanes by adding a new lane on both sides, along with the development of three protected U-turns,” he said.
Asked why the NHA was again spending billions on a 5-kilometre segment recently upgraded, the director denied the impression, and claimed only “minor maintenance work” was under way.
However, a review of the central zone’s maintenance records indicates that projects worth roughly Rs2 billion are currently being executed on this short stretch, raising questions about whether the spending serves to benefit the minister’s private enterprise.
Official documents show the works include: Rs4.01 million for construction of a smart U-turn; Rs105 million for repair and maintenance of the road corridor; Rs137 million for installation of lights; Rs241 million for highway safety works; Rs671 million for widening and improvement; Rs291 million for extension of Hydera Bridge; Rs49.6 million for plantation and sprinkler activity; Rs282 million for redesigning of a U-turn; Rs150 million for construction of two U-turns; and Rs1.8 million for additional widening.
Sources said the deployment of such large funds was being carried out on the directions of the federal minister, alleging that several procedural lapses had also been reported.
A senior NHA official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “The record clearly shows that a huge amount has been drawn from the public exchequer. It raises serious questions, but we will have to see how the Senate committee proceeds.”
The Senate Standing Committee on Communications is chaired by Senator Pervaiz Rasheed of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.
