News Detail
Event Title: Senator Niaz Ahmed, Chairman Senate Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas presiding over a meeting of the committee at Parliament Lodges, Islamabad.
Event Date: 2026-04-13
Senate Committee Expresses Dissatisfaction Over Delayed Development Projects; Directs Immediate Action on Digital Connectivity and Infrastructure
The Senate Standing Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas convened today at Old PIPS Hall, Parliament Lodges, under the Chairmanship of Senator Niaz Ahmed to conduct performance review of essential infrastructure, telecommunications, and energy sector projects in less developed regions including Chitral and Shangla. During the proceedings, the Committee received a comprehensive briefing regarding about flood control measures and 5-megawatt hydropower power project in District Chitral being executed under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
Addressing critical regional grievances, Senator Talha Mehmood, the mover of the agenda, drew the Committee’s attention to lack of stable internet services in Upper Chitral. He emphasized that internet service disruption creates severe hardships for the local population, forcing students and IT professionals to travel long distances to Lower Chitral just to perform basic professional tasks. The Chairman PTA and CEO USF made assurance to the committee that immediate measures should be implemented to improve the service delivery. The Committee further directed Chairperson NAVTTC to submit audit reports, third party verification reports concerning the implementing partners engaged in NAVTTC.
The Committee also deliberated on the strategic Khawazakhela-Besham Expressway, a 48 KM project of vital importance to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) route. The Chairman questioned the underlying causes for persistent delays in the project and future prospects for early start of development of work. The member NHA clarified that the project hit delays due to high cost and later realignment. The Committee underscored the necessity for an accelerated completion timeline.
Technical briefings were further provided by the Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA), who reported that while 142 towers have been installed in Chitral primarily through Telenor, chronic spectrum connectivity and access continue to severely hamper overall connectivity. However, steps are being taken to address this problem. On the energy front, officials from the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) detailed ongoing electricity development initiatives under their current three-year plan. Concurrently, the Committee scrutinized the status of various USF funds and demanded transparent details regarding the banks where these deposits are held and the specific interest rates being applied.
In a stern closing observation, the Committee voiced its extreme dissatisfaction regarding the absence of several Federal Secretaries during these critical briefings. Consequently, multiple agenda items were deferred, with the Chairman issuing a directive that concerned federal secretaries/ HoDs shall ensure their personal attendance at the next meeting.
The meeting was attended by Senators Jan Muhammad, Syed Kazim Ali Shah, Muhammad Aslam Abro, Danesh Kumar, and Falak Naz, alongside senior officials from various relevant ministries and departments