ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) criticised the federal government in the National Assembly on Wednesday over its takeover of the Rs465 billion Lahore-Bahawalnagar Motorway project in Punjab, raising concerns over provincial autonomy and fiscal protocols.
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PPP lawmakers Syed Naveed Qamar and Dr Sharmila Faruqui questioned why a provincial project was being “federalised” and warned that diverting funds from other national projects could undermine development priorities. They argued that such projects are best handled at the provincial level or through public-private partnerships, citing Sindh’s approach as a model.
In response, State Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Chaudhry Armaghan Subhani said no funds had been diverted from the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the motorway. He added that the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway project remained a top priority and that the Lahore-Bahawalnagar project would be executed on a fast-track basis.
Sharmila Faruqui also raised concerns over the National Highway Authority’s Rs2.5 trillion “throw-forward,” calling federal funding of provincial projects without consent a violation of fiscal agreements. Speaker Ayaz Sadiq referred the matter to the Planning and Development Panel for further review.
Separately, Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry updated the House on illegal call centres operating nationwide, often linked to financial fraud and scams. He highlighted capacity challenges at the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), noting that only 523 personnel were currently available to handle rising complaints of online crimes.
The session also touched on other legislative matters, including a bill seeking the right of appeal against military court verdicts, which the chair assured would be placed on the agenda during the next private members’ day.
Read More: Sindh objects to Punjab Motorway priority
The debate underscores ongoing tension between the federal government and opposition parties over provincial rights and fiscal governance, as lawmakers call for transparent project funding and adherence to constitutional protocols.