Islamabad, August 23, 2025 – The National Assembly Standing Committee on Economic Affairs Division has expressed serious concerns over the award of a massive infrastructure contract worth Rs172 billion, citing the need for greater transparency and accountability in the process.
The committee, chaired by Sher Ali Arbab, met to review critical matters relating to national economic growth and major development projects. During the session, members discussed the contract awarded to M/S Ningxia Communications Construction Company and questioned whether due diligence and competitive bidding protocols had been fully observed.
To address these concerns, the committee urged the Prime Minister to initiate an immediate inquiry into the matter. Until the investigation concludes and all facts are presented, the committee has recommended suspending all ongoing work linked to the company under this specific project.
The committee also voiced displeasure over the absence of senior representatives from the power sector and the Ministry of Planning, who were expected to brief members on key agenda items. According to the official statement, such absences hinder informed decision-making on projects of national importance.
In a separate development, the committee unanimously recommended that the Lyari Elevated Freight Corridor (LEFC) be included in the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP). Officials briefed the members on ongoing plans by the Ministry of Communications and the National Highway Authority (NHA) to optimize freight movement in Karachi.
Proposals include upgrading the existing 2-lane Karachi Northern Bypass (KNB) to a 4-to-6-lane motorway standard, significantly improving transport efficiency.
Additionally, the Ministry updated the committee on the draft policy for non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which has been forwarded to the federal cabinet for review. Once approved, the policy will be presented to Parliament for legislative approval.
The meeting was attended by several MNAs, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and other concerned departments.