ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Government Assurances has directed the National Highways Authority (NHA) to ensure price control of commodities and services across all motorways in the country.
The committee also asked the NHA to provide medical facilities and medicines at service areas for the convenience of travelers. The committee meeting, chaired by MNA Ms. Nuzhat Sadiq, was held at the Parliament House.
The directives were issued while reviewing the implementation of an assurance given by the Minister for Communications in response to a question raised by MNA Ms. Asia Naz Tanoli about the high prices being charged at motorway service areas.
The committee also asked the NHA to share the part of the contract between the authority and its concessionaire related to price control on the M-2 Motorway.
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Officials from the NHA informed the committee that a two-year concession contract for the M-2 Motorway had been awarded, covering maintenance and related services. They added that price fixation is mainly the responsibility of district administrations, but the NHA regularly inspects and reports on the quality and pricing of services.
The committee also reviewed the implementation of an assurance made by the Minister for Energy regarding the provision of gas connections to households located within five kilometers of gas fields. It directed Sui Gas companies to ensure the supply of gas connections and submit a progress report to the committee.
In another discussion, the committee took notice of the use of substandard LPG cylinders for domestic use, based on a question raised by MNA Ms. Rana Ansar. It instructed the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to strengthen its regulatory measures to curb the production of poor-quality cylinders.
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Chairman OGRA briefed the committee that regular inspections are conducted at manufacturing facilities and that public awareness campaigns are being carried out to inform people about the risks of using low-quality LPG cylinders.
The meeting was attended by MNAs Ms. Asiya Ishaque Siddique, Raja Qamar-ul-Islam, Ms. Shagufta Jummani, Ms. Shahida Rehmani, Mr. Hameed Hussain, Syed Javed Ali Shah Jillani, Ms. Sofia Saeed Shah, and Ms. Natasha Daultana, along with secretaries and senior officials from relevant ministries and departments.
