ISLAMABAD – A parliamentary subcommittee of the Senate Standing Committee on Communication on Friday once again raised concerns over the awarding of major infrastructure contracts, including those for the Lodhran–Multan Road and CAREC Tranche-III projects.
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Lawmakers questioned the transparency and procedures behind awarding the contracts to a joint venture involving a local firm and a foreign company.
The meeting, chaired by Senator Kamil Ali Agha and attended by Senators Zamir Ahmed Ghumro and Saifullah Abro, expressed frustration over the absence of senior management from key departments. The committee said the junior officers present provided incomplete or misleading information, further deepening concerns about the contracting process.
Senator Agha sought clarity on a letter reportedly written by the National Highway Authority (NHA) to the Asian Development Bank regarding the CAREC Tranche-III project. He raised serious reservations about awarding the contract to Ningxia Communications Construction Company (NXCC), a Chinese firm engaged in the project.
The Sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Communication met today under the chairmanship of Senator Kamil Ali Agha.#Senate #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/CcrKrcTqFR
— ꜱᴇɴᴀᴛᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴘᴀᴋɪꜱᴛᴀɴ (@SenatePakistan) November 28, 2025
The chairman directed that all documents submitted before the court in the case involving NXCC be presented to the committee for examination. He also summoned the consultant firm responsible for the technical oversight of the CAREC Tranche-III project to provide a comprehensive briefing at the next meeting.
During the session, Senator Saifullah Abro pointed out that Rustam Associates and Dynamic Constructors (RADC), one of the contractors for the Lodhran–Multan rehabilitation project, is reportedly a sister company of NXCC. He demanded complete details about the contract and sought clarification on potential conflicts of interest.
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The subcommittee agreed to continue its inquiry into the matter and directed the NHA to ensure the presence of its senior leadership at the next meeting. Members insisted that a transparent and detailed briefing was essential for establishing accountability and ensuring proper oversight of large-scale national development projects.