Islamabad : The Standing Committee on Planning, Development & Special Initiatives held its 8th meeting at Parliament House under the chairmanship of Syed Abdul Kadir Gillani, MNA. Members reviewed implementation of previous recommendations, examined sub-committee findings, and assessed progress on development initiatives under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
A detailed report was presented by the sub-committee led by Syed Sami Ul Hassan Gillani, MNA, on the status of projects transffered to provinces in the wake of Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD) dissolution. The report, based on four meetings, outlined inter-ministerial coordination efforts and challenges in implementing Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Programme (SAP) schemes, especially where federal funding is executed through provincial bodies.
The Committee expressed concern over persistent execution issues, including re-tendering delays in Punjab, contractor litigation, and limited capacity within Pakistan Infrastructure Development Company Limited (PIDCL) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Members also noted delays in third-party verifications and pending payments. To address these, the sub-committee was reconstituted with Mr. Zulfiqar Bachani, Malik Sohail Khan, and Mr. Muhammad Ameer Sultan joining as members under the convenership of Syed Sami Ul Hassan Gillani.
Strong dissatisfaction was expressed over the dissolution of PWD without a transition framework, which has caused operational confusion. Members called for clear SOPs and a centralized oversight mechanism to ensure accountability and continuity.
The Ministry of Finance clarified that PSDP fund disbursements are made based on provincial requisitions, with no discrimination. Funds of the merged districts under the Accelerated Implementation Plan has been released. Members were informed that new national projects will be finalized by 31st May, with several PC-1s already submitted for inclusion in the PSDP. Members emphasized timely consultation on these projects to reflect public priorities.
Members were also briefed on the Rosche project, funded over five years to provide free cancer medication. The initial phase will be implemented at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), with expansion planned in later stages. Concerns were raised over the lack of clean drinking water in Multan and underfunding of Nishtar Hospital-II. The Committee stressed immediate attention to essential health and water services as fundamental rights.
The NHA updated the Committee on the M6 Motorway (Sukkur–Hyderabad), a Rs. 450 billion project divided into five sections. Feasibility for the Hyderabad–Karachi link is underway. The Committee discussed proceeding under a Public-Private Partnership model versus awaiting Asian Development Bank (ADB) support. Progress on partnership proposals, including one with Azerbaijan, remains limited.
The Committee deferred the Uraan Pakistan project and recommended inclusion of the National Highway Authority (NHA) in the next meeting. Additionally, the Committee unanimously approved PSDP projects for the Frontier Constabulary for the upcoming fiscal year.
The meeting concluded with a call for unified oversight, improved federal-provincial coordination, and equitable resource distribution to ensure timely delivery of national development priorities.
Attendees included Maj. (R) Tahir Iqbal, Syed Sami Ul Hassan Gillani, Ms. Naz Baloch, Mr. Muhammad Moazzam Ali Khan, Mr. Farhan Chishti, Ms. Akhtar Bibi, Mr. Dawar Khan Kundi, Malik Sohail Khan, Mr. Ali Asghar Khan, Ms. Izbal Zehri, and Mr. Muhammad Ameer Sultan, alongside senior officials from the Ministry of Planning, Finance Division, NHA, and Ministry of Interior.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
