By F T Reporter :
ISLAMABAD—The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Senator Saifullah Abro, reviewed foreign-funded development projects and expressed serious concern over alleged irregularities in World Bank-funded road projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The Committee questioned the bidding process, alleging that projects were split into multiple packages and that procurement procedures lacked transparency. It directed the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) to seek a comprehensive inquiry, recommend legal action against those responsible, recover any excess public funds, and request the World Bank to examine the procurement as a possible case of misprocurement.
The Committee also recommended reducing reliance on foreign loans and called for a meeting with the World Bank Country Director to discuss its observations.
Reviewing the Karachi Mobility Project (BRT Yellow Line), members were informed that the project is expected to be completed by December 2028, with 250 electric buses to be procured under a public-private partnership model. The Chairman directed authorities to ensure transparency and submit subsidy details to the Committee.
The Committee also reviewed progress on the Akram Wah Canal Project and directed officials to provide a timeline for finalizing the contract while ensuring strict scrutiny of the procurement process.
