The Senate Standing Committee on Communications in its meeting on Thursday discussed the matter of land of local residents on both sides of Super Highway (M-9 Motorway) and also touched upon the reports of CNICs being checked by FWO on M-9 without any authorisation. The Committee recommended stopping this practice while also calling upon better training and capacity building of the staff deployed at the toll plazas and other points. The Committee called for improving the lighting and other facilities in the tunnels and other parts of the road. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Senator Hidayatullah Khan here at the Parliament House today and was attended among others by Senators Behramand Tangi, Salahuddin Tirmzi, Yousaf Badini, Moula Bakhsh Chandio, Gianchand, Islamuddin Sheikh, Syed Sabir Shah, Secretary Communications, Chairman NHA, Joint Secretary Planning, Joint Secretary Finance, and officers form relevant government departments. The Committee expressed anguish at the absence of Secretary Finance from the meeting without intimation. Discussion on progress report on CPEC Easter/Western and common routes was deferred and it was decided to file a privilege motion against the Secretary. The Committee was told regarding the Multan-Sukkur Motorway that the process for taking over certificate is underway and the Shah Maqsood-Mensehra section of the Hazara Motorway is being tried to open for traffic till the end of this month. The delays are due to some geometry and design issues with the addition of frequent rains. Regarding the delay in implementation of sub-committee’s recommendations regarding Kaghan – Babusar top highway the Committee directed the National Highway Authority to come up with a detailed report on the matter in next meeting. The Committee was given briefing by Member West Zone NHA regarding the overall progress of the construction of Khuzdar-Shahdad Kot section of Gwadar-Ratodero Road, M-8 Section IV, Package III. The Committee was told that the original PC-I was of 23.168 billion rupees and award of works was given in 1999. The original date of completion was in 2006 now it is being aimed to complete the package III till December 2019 but this deadline is subject to availability of funds. The revised PC-I is of 38.02 billion rupees and the incomplete section runs along 51.12 kilometres. The Committee strongly recommended that any project directors working on this section shouldn’t be given any other project till its completion and any and all additional charge given to him may also be withdrawn.