News Detail
Event Title: Senator Quratulain Marri, Chairperson Senate Standing Committee On Planning, Development And Special Initiatives Presiding Over A Meeting Of The Committee At Parliament House Islamabad.
Event Date: 2025-11-06
The Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, chaired by Senator Quratulain Marri, met at Parliament House to review the first-quarter authorisation and release of funds under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2025–26 and to receive progress updates on key national projects.
During the briefing by the Planning and Finance Divisions, the Committee noted that while approximately Rs 330 billion had been authorised by Second quarter, actual expenditure against amount authorizations has remained low. The Committee expressed concern regarding the delays in the utilization and expenditure of allocated funds, terming them a major obstacle to the timely execution of projects. Both Divisions were directed to take up the matter with all concerned Ministries and Divisions to expedite the utilization of funds rather than waiting until the close of the financial year.
The Committee was also briefed by the National Highway Authority (NHA), Ministry of Economic Affairs, and the Public-Private Partnership Authority (P3A) on the status of the Sukkur–Hyderabad–Karachi Motorway (M-6). Officials informed the Committee that the revised PC-1 had been approved and that negotiations were under way with international financing partners, including the Saudi Fund for Development and the Islamic Development Bank. The Committee, while appreciating the milestones achieved, emphasized the need for the concerned departments to accelerate implementation and remove procedural bottlenecks to avoid further delays.
While reviewing its earlier recommendations on the PSDP 2025–26, the Committee reaffirmed that schemes of the defunct Pak-PWD under the demands of the Ministries of Housing & Works and Finance Division from Sindh Province be transferred to the respective Provincial Governments in line with the principle of provincial autonomy. The Committee also supported the establishment of the Arshad Nadeem/Shehbaz Sharif High-Performance Sports Academy at the Pakistan Sports Complex, Islamabad, considering it a significant national initiative. The Chairperson highlighted that Mr. Arshad Nadeem is a generational talent who has brought great pride to the nation. It was emphasized that the development of this project is essential to motivate and inspire future generations to strive for similar excellence in representing the country.
However, the Committee did not endorse the proposed Agriculture Research Institute, Sheikhupura, the Faiz Ahmed Faiz Complex, Narowal, and the Allama Iqbal Culture and Research Centre, Sialkot, observing that these projects were not required as similar institutions already exist. It was recommended that development expenditure be directed towards more pressing and innovative initiatives instead. The Committee also directed the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to maintain provincial balance in the formulation of new projects.
Among those who were present were Senators Saadia Abbasi, Jam Saifullah Khan, Shahadat Awan, Secretary for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and senior officials from relevant departments.