Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, chaired by Senator Quratulain Marri, held a meeting to review the progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the status of the Sukkur-Hyderabad-Karachi Motorways. The meeting was attended by Senators Jam Saifullah Khan, Shahadat Awan, and Saadia Abbasi.
The Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives (MoPDandSI) briefed the Committee on Pakistan's SDGs progress, stating that 173 indicators out of a total of 250 are expected to be reported in the upcoming national report. The Committee expressed concern over stagnant progress in education and literacy, highlighting gaps in field surveys and lack of accountability for delays. Senator Marri directed the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics to strictly follow timelines and instructed the Ministry of Planning to strengthen inter-ministerial coordination for achieving SDG targets.
Emphasizing population management as a critical factor for sustainable development, the Chairperson questioned why it was not treated as a priority. Senators Saadia Abbasi and Jam Saifullah Khan highlighted the challenges posed by rapid population growth, including its impact on water and food resources. The Committee directed the Ministry of Planning to provide a comprehensive briefing on population management policies in the next session.
The Committee was also briefed on the Sukkur-Hyderabad-Karachi Motorways. Senator Marri expressed displeasure over the absence of the Secretary Communications and questioned the repeated delays in project timelines. She directed that no further delays be allowed in the completion of the Sukkur-Hyderabad (M-6) Motorway and emphasized that the Secretary Communications and Chairman NHA must attend the next meeting.
The Minister of State for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives appreciated the Committee's role in expediting the M-6 Motorway project and stressed that the Standing Committee will continue monitoring public-centric projects until completion. The Committee was also informed that land acquisition for the Karachi Port-Hyderabad Motorway (M-10) is planned to begin in the next fiscal year.