Findings of Karachi bridge collapse be made public: Senate body
By Ali Imran

ISLAMABAD—Senate Standing Committee on Communications on Thursday demanded that the findings of the Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission (PMIC) which was entrusted with the job of conducting an enquiry of the collapse of Shershah Bridge on Northern Bye-pass in Karachi be made public.
The Committee met at the Parliament House under the Chairmanship of Senator Kamil Ali Agha at Parliament House here. It may be mentioned here that on September 1, 2007, the bridge on Northern Bypass (M-10) collapsed in Karachi just after one month of its opening for traffic.
The committee also expressed its dissatisfaction over the poor quality repair work on Makran Coastal Highway, that was badly damaged due to flash floods last year. It directed the NHA to carry out a detailed study of thedamage caused by floods so that a comprehensive plan may be undertaken to remove the structural flaws to avoid future losses.
It also directed that the rehabilitation work should be expedited. It was observed that lack of proper hydrological data of the area seems to be the main reason for colossal loss and it was the need of the hour to make all out efforts to collect the relevant figures and make adjustments in the highway avoid loss in the days to come. The Committee observed that locals of the area should be given preference in recruitments in Balochistan with a view to remove the sense of deprivation among the people of Balochistan.
The Committee further observed that lack of proper hydrological data of the area seems to be the main reason for colossal losses that had to be endured on account of flash floods and stress the need to make all out effortsto collect he relevant figures and made adjustments in the highway avoid loss in the days to come.
Earlier, the Secretary Ministry of Communications Sajid Chattha briefed the Committee on the damage caused to Makran Coastal Highway and progress of the enquiry on collapse of Shershah Bridge in Karachi. He said that a severe cyclone hit the Mekran Coast in June last year and maximum impact was felt by Ormara-Pasni section of Coastal Highway. He said that an enquiry committee was appointed by the Ministry of Communications to investigate causes of damage, assess the losses and suggest remedial measures. He admitted the fact that there were some flaws in the designing, however the intensity of floods was too severe that the Coastal Highway was damaged at different points. He assured the committee that precautionary measures adopted would help minimize losses to a great extend in future.
The meeting was attended besides the Chairman Senator Kamil Ali Agha by Senators Mir Muhammad Naseer Mengal, Naeem Hussain Chattha, Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi, Nawab Muhammad Ayaz Khan Jogezai, Dr. Muhammad Ismail Buledi and Senator Liaquat Ali Bangulzai as mover.