Karachi, Hyderabad Highway construction contract revoked
From Zeeshan Mirza

KARACHI—Federal Minister for Communication Shamim Siddiqui has said that the National Highway Council (NHC) had cancelled Concession Agreement with Standard Construction Company, which was given the contract of construction of Karachi Hyderabad Super Highway, M-9, by NHA.
Addressing a press conference the minister, who is also the President of the NHC said that the NHA had awarded the contract to a local company in a hurry without taking NHC into confidence.
He further said that Sindh Government had reservation about the project, which pertained to diversion in the highway and no-objection certificate by Sindh Government.
He pointed out that due to sub standard work on M-9 more than eighty people have died in road accidents on the Highway, adding Sindh Government has to compensate for such losses.
On the question of Right of Way, he said that Sindh government has refused as Punjab government did in 1993 for M-3. Provincial ministers have written letters to him asking him to take notice of the situation.
The Minister said that the NHC would conduct probe into the M-9 construction, adding that the M-3 was also constructed in such a hurry manner in 1993 so that council would also probe into its construction.
He said that the only 48 kilometers has been completed in the span of two years but the High Way is in the state of shambles. He underlined that the importance of M-9 has increased manifold after the development of Taiser Town, Mlir Development Authority and industrial activities at Nooriabad.
He said that M-9 meant to be six lane highway, and a project costing Rs 7 billion, which has to be completed within three years. He informed that he had brought the matter into the notice of President and Prime Minister. He stressed that the reservation of Sindh government on the question of Right of Way and diversion should be addressed.
Federal Communication Minister Shamim Siddiqi, Saturday announced to revoke the award of contract to a company for the construction of N-5 Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway. Addressing a press conference, Shamim Siddiqi said that there was irregularity in awarding the contract. The Federal and Provincial Governments and he himself was not taken into confidence.
“We have serious reservations about this contract”, he said and added that it was awarded in a haste. Shamim Siddiqi said he has submitted a report to the Prime Minister about irregularities committed by National Highway Authority.
The contract was for Rs 7 billion and the construction work was to be completed on BOT basis in three years.