A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Planning and Development took an unexpected turn when it was revealed that a newly proposed motorway between Lahore and Raiwind would span just 16 kilometres — a detail that sparked tough questions from lawmakers.
Chaired by Senator Quratulain Marri, the committee was reviewing ongoing development schemes when Planning Ministry officials disclosed the short length of the planned motorway. They noted the project falls under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), which last fiscal year saw an expenditure of Rs1 trillion. This year, 55 projects not yet approved have been added to the PSDP and will require No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the Planning Commission following a comprehensive review.
The committee was also briefed that Rs100 billion has been earmarked for the N-5 Highway in Balochistan, while seven highway projects will receive foreign assistance. Among these, the Islamic Development Bank will fund three sections of the M-6 Motorway, while two others will be completed through public-private partnerships. Upgrades are also planned for the GT Road along the Hyderabad-Sukkur route.
Senator Marri questioned the prioritization of a new motorway in Punjab when several projects in other provinces remain incomplete. “Are you building a motorway just for one house?” she asked, referring to the Lahore-Raiwind route. Officials responded that the Punjab government would finance the project and that the National Highway Authority is currently conducting a land survey.
Meanwhile, Senator Sadia Abbasi raised concerns about termite damage in Islamabad’s public library and proposed the establishment of an Allama Iqbal Research Center along with a new national library. She emphasized the need for responsible use of development funds and cautioned against misinterpreting genuine concerns as political criticism.