The National Assembly Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Special Initiatives on Monday stressed the need for fiscal prudence and enhanced transparency in national development planning.
The committee, which met under the chairmanship of MNA Syed Abdul Kadir Gilani, thoroughly debated matters relating to ongoing and proposed infrastructure projects in various regions of the country, including the status of the bridge project between Peer Mahal and Mian Channu, according to a news release.
The committee members highlighted the importance of ensuring the timely completion of approved schemes and keeping local communities informed about project progress and expected completion schedules.
The committee was briefed on the prevailing fiscal environment and the challenges confronting the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal informed parliamentarians that significant adjustments had been made to development allocations because of financial constraints. He said difficult prioritization decisions were necessary to ensure the continuity of critical national projects. The committee also deliberated on the General Statistics (Reorganization) (Amendment) Bill, 2025. While recognizing the technical nature of the proposed amendments, the committee observed that certain provisions required further examination and consequently deferred the bill for further consideration.
The body discussed a calling attention notice regarding the federal government’s takeover of the Rs465 billion Lahore-Bahawalnagar Motorway Project and concerns related to development priorities and resource allocation.
The committee members underscored the importance of maintaining a balanced approach to national infrastructure development and emphasized that major public investments must be accompanied by transparency, clear implementation schedules and regular reporting to Parliament. The committee stressed that development agencies should provide definitive timelines and measurable milestones to facilitate effective parliamentary oversight and public accountability.
It reiterated its commitment to ensuring that public resources were utilized efficiently and that development initiatives continue to serve the broader national interest through equitable and evidence-based planning.